Zat Knight

SOCCER star Zat Knight was led away in handcuffs after armed drug cops raided his mum’s house early yesterday.

The England defender’s brother Carlos, 26, wearing only his underwear, was marched out at gunpoint by police backed up by dogs.

Substances believed to be Class A drugs crack cocaine and heroin were said to have been seized at the house in Erdington, Birmingham.

Only hours later, talented 6ft 6in Zat was paraded by Premiership club Aston Villa as their new £3.5million signing.

A second address, believed to be owned by the player, 27, seven miles south in the city’s Great Barr district, was also raided. No one was home.

Sources claimed a desperate bid was made at the Erdington address to throw suspected drugs from a back window of the property as cops came crashing in the front.

Zat — a member of Sven Goran Eriksson’s squad which took part in a two-game tour in the US in 2005 — spent six hours in custody. It it is believed his brother is the main focus of the investigation.

Carlos has been the subject of a police watch for almost a year, insiders said.

Mum Sandra, 47, was not among those arrested and was not at the house when cops went in.

Yesterday’s raid took place at 5.30am. Nine hours later Villa were due to show off the player they signed from Fulham.

Neighbours last night told what they saw of the raid.

One local, who did not wish to be identified, said: “The police were in the house for about three hours. After that, uniformed officers came out carrying several plastic bags, rucksacks and boxes. We don’t know what they took away.

“We knew the house had been under observation for several days because we had seen cars parked around here with men sitting inside.”

Another neighbour of the family’s large white detached house said: “We heard dogs barking and police vans at about 5.30am. The police van was still there when I left for work a few hours later.”

One witness added: “It’s definitely Zat Knight’s mum’s house.

“When I left for work, it was all happening. The officers and dogs looked like they wanted to approach but they thought someone was inside.

“The police escorted a kid, who looked around ten or 11, away from the house and up the lane — but that was probably just to evacuate the area.”

Zat was banged up in police cells at Queen’s Road station in Aston.

He feared missing the press conference organised at Villa’s training ground to announce his signing of a four-year contract.

Zat, who asked to make a call to his agent, was visited by his lawyer and bailed under his full name Zatiyah Knight.

He was unveiled as Villa’s new star at the club’s training ground by manager Martin O’Neill.

No mention was made of the arrest — though it is believed Zat is protesting his innocence.

After the press conference, Zat made a brief return to his mum’s address.

A spokesman for the West Midlands Police said: “Police have carried out a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs and Firearms Act this morning at an address in Erdington.

“Two men, aged 26 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of Class A drugs offences.

“The 27-year-old man has since been released on police bail. The 26-year-old man continues to help with inquiries.

“A quantity of controlled drugs was seized.”

In 2006, Carlos broke Zat’s jaw in two places during a bout of “horseplay”.

Zat said: “We were play-fighting. I know some people thought otherwise, but that is the truth.”