Released after drug arrest - Paris Hilton

The socialite was booked into the Clark County Detention Centre early on Saturday on the cocaine charge, Las Vegas police spokesman Marcus Martin said. She was released before dawn on her own recognisance.

The 29-year-old Hilton was in a car driven by a friend when it was stopped about 11.30pm local time on Friday after officers detected what they suspected to be marijuana smoke wafting from it, he said.

"Officers noticed a vehicle leaving smoke trail of a controlled substance (and) made a stop based on that," Martin said.

During the stop, officers found what appeared to be a drug on Hilton and later tests showed that it was cocaine, Martin said. He didn't know how much was found.

He said Hilton was apparently recognised by passers-by and a crowd quickly gathered in the area where the vehicle had been pulled over.

Police watch commander Lieutenant Wayne Holman said Hilton was released early on Saturday morning. He didn't know how long she had been held nor any details about a possible court date.

He said the man who was driving the car was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of drugs. But he didn't have any other details, including his name.

The arrest came during a week in which a burglary attempt was made on Hilton's Los Angeles home.

Officials said 31-year-old Nathan Lee Parada faces a felony burglary charge in the incident on Tuesday.

Authorities have said that someone carrying two big knives banged on Hilton's window. She posted a photo of the arrest on Twitter and described it as "scary."

Hilton was arrested this summer after the Brazil-Netherlands World Cup match in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on suspicion of possession of marijuana. The case was then dropped at a midnight court hearing.

Hilton pleaded no contest in 2007 to alcohol-related reckless driving and was sentenced to 45 days in jail. After spending about 23 days in jail, Hilton told US television host Larry King that the experience caused her to re-evaluate the role partying played in her life. She said she wanted "to help raise money for kids and for breast cancer and multiple sclerosis."