LOS ANGELES: An associate of pop star Justin Bieber was detained after cocaine was found during a search of the Canadian singer's Los Angeles mansion on Tuesday following allegations of vandalism, officials said.

Los Angeles Sheriff's Department officer Dave Thompson said an individual was arrested after drugs were discovered as deputies combed through Bieber's luxury home in the upmarket enclave of Calabasas.

Around a dozen detectives swooped on Bieber's sprawling estate early Tuesday, probing allegations that the teen idol was responsible for causing thousands of dollars in damage to a neighbor's home after pelting it with eggs.

Thompson said an investigation into a "felony crime" was ongoing.

He said cocaine found at the property was "in plain view of the deputies when they were looking for the evidence."

Bieber, who was in the property during the raid, had been neither "arrested or exonerated" in connection with the vandalism case, Thompson said.

He added that the pop star was "not connected to that cocaine other than the gentleman was staying at his residence.''

Officials however dismissed suggestions that the nature of the alleged vandalism -- alleged to have caused as much as $20,000 in damage -- was trivial.

"A felony crime is a felony crime. The damage was from the eggs," Thompson added.

"The felony comes from the amount of the damage, and this residence sustained a great amount of damage that easily achieve the felony vandalism section.

"I get that the eggs don't seem that significant but it does rise to the level of a felony. There's an extensive amount of damage and I and the sheriff's department take that very seriously."

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department earlier confirmed they had served a warrant at Bieber's home over the egg-throwing allegations.

"The purpose of the search warrant is to seek video surveillance or other possible evidence in the vandalism that occurred on January 9 ... The vandalism damage is estimated by the homeowner to be approximately $20,000," a statement said.

The warrant followed a complaint from a neighbor of Bieber that the star had hurled raw eggs at his home last week.

The case was first classified as a possible misdemeanor offense.

However officials said Tuesday it was now being probed as a more serious felony offense because the damage to property exceeded $400.

It is not known what prompted the alleged egg attack. (AFP)

SOURCE: AFP