Paris Hilton has been detained in Port Elizabeth for possession of marijuana, South African police officers claimed on Friday night.

Paris Hilton and her friend CamRaFace at the Holland Brazil game in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Miss Hilton, great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, the founder of Hilton Hotels, was allegedly escorted by police from the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth just before 8pm tonight and taken to a nearby police station.

She is alleged to have been in possession of an unspecified amount of marijuana while watching Holland's World Cup quarter-final victory over Brazil.

Provincial Head of Detectives in Port Elizabeth, Mark Magadlela, confirmed that Miss Hilton had been at the Mount Road Police Station but had been released.

A spokeswoman for police at Port Elizabeth, Brig. Marinda Mills, declined to confirm the name, but said a high profile person was appearing in court on drug-related charges.

"This person is appearing in court right now. We cannot reveal information about her until she has appeared in court. I am here with the individual in court, we're waiting for the court to start," Mills told the Associated Press.

A local radio station in Johannesburg said Hilton was detained outside the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium, after watching the quarter-final match between Holland and Brazil.

A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity said Hilton was caught with an unspecified amount of marijuana.

"She was found in possession of some amount of dagga," the officer said, using the local name for marijuana. "We don't know how much. It's a high profile person, only the top cops are dealing with it," he said.

Miss Hilton, had flown into South Africa in a private jet to watch the quarter-final match.

"Had so much fun at the game today. What a match! I love South Africa," she said on her Twitter account earlier today.

In May 2007, Miss Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in jail for violating her probation following a conviction for a drink-driving offence.