Former Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths was arrested on Thursday morning as part of a police probe into gambling in sport.
The 32-year-old was later released without charge after his home was searched by detectives in an early morning raid. Officers descended on the £675,000 mansion in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, at around 7am.
It is understood more than 10 officers attended the property, with three uniformed cops and eight from CID said to have been involved in the search of the plush detached villa, which is currently up for sale. The operation is understood to have lasted for around two-and-a-half hours, with the police leaving the scene at around 9.30am, reports The Daily Record.
Uniformed officers also used torches to peer into vehicles parked in the quiet cul-de-sac. Sources say neighbours in the upmarket area were shocked by the heavy police presence. One insider said: "The street was full of police cars and a van. They were inside the house and searching the cars in the driveway.
"It was still dark and the police were using torches. Whatever they were doing, they weren't discreet about it. It was chaotic. They were still there when people were going to work. We think Griffiths was inside the house when police arrived. His car was parked outside."
The striker also played for Livingston, Dundee, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hibernian and Falkirk and has earned 22 caps for Scotland. Two other men were arrested in linked raids. The 35-year-old and 37-year-old were detained following searches of properties in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, and Airdrie, Lanarkshire. They were also released without charge.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Following a pre-planned police operation on Thursday, 1 December, three men, aged 37, 35 and 32, were arrested in the Bothwell, Bonnyrigg and Airdrie areas in connection with an investigation into alleged gambling incidents in sport. All three men were released without charge pending further enquiries."
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