They were later released on condition they do not leave their hotels while local authorities continue their investigations into a ticket scandal linked to the OCI, insidethegames has been told. 

The officials had their mobile phones, laptops and passports confiscated following a search of the OCI's headquarters at the Olympic Village this morning.

Other accommodation being used by OCI officials was also searched. 

They have been prevented from speaking to each other as the investigation continues.

insidethegames understands that the officials include Dermot Heinihan, the secretary general of the OCI, and Kevin Kilty, Chef de Mission of the Irish team at Rio 2016. 

They must report to a police station here on Tuesday (August 23) to give a statement.

Tomorrow is a bank holiday in Rio. 

Positive performance environment here in @Rio2016_en #OlympicVillage pic.twitter.com/QPLIkgDuue

— Stephen Martin (@samhockeygold) July 31, 2016

The police will decide afterwards whether they will have their passports returned and allowed to return home. 

The OCI President and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board member Patrick Hickey was arrested here three days ago in connection with the inquiry.

The 71-year-old Hickey was denied bail and is currently being held in the maximum security Bangu Prison. 

A decision about whether to file formal charges against Hickey is expected to be made after the evidence has been studied on Tuesday and a court hearing held. 

If the police decide not to press ahead with charges, Hickey will be free to leave the country.

But if they decide to investigate further, he could face up to six months in Brazil before finding out what will happen to him.

Another Irishman, Kevin Mallon and interpreter Barbara Carnieri was arrested earlier this month for allegedly being in possession of over 1,000 tickets for the Olympic Games that they were not authorised to sell. 

Mallon was detained for illegally reselling tickets at inflated prices and faces charges of false marketing and Carnieri was accused of false marketing.

Hickey and Mallon are currently sharing a prison cell, it has been reported. 

Mallon works for THG Sports, a company owned by Marcus Evans, who were the OCI's official authorised ticket reseller for London 2012 and Sochi 2014.

But they were not awarded the contract for Rio 2016, which was instead given to the little-known Pro10 Sports Management. 

"Early this morning in Rio, Brazilian police arrived at the OCI offices in the Olympic Village and at OCI accommodation outside of the Village," a statement from the OCI confirmed.

"They were met by OCI personnel. 

"No arrests were made. 

"The police took possession of their passports along with their phones and laptops. 

"The OCI personnel were asked to present for questioning at a local police station on Tuesday (23^rd August) next. 

"They agreed to do so.

"The OCI had an allocation of unused official tickets in their offices which had been made available for athletes’ families and friends. 

"The police also took possession of these tickets."

Chief of the Civil Police Fraud Unit, Ricardo Barboza de Souza, told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that police "completed a search and apprehension action this morning, in the rooms of integrants of the Olympic Council of Ireland". 

The police chief confirmed that their files involving Hickey have now been passed to the public prosecutor’s office.

The OCI are due to hold a Board meeting in Dublin tonight.

It is expected to be chaired by William O'Brien, the acting President of the OCI following Hickey's decision to temporarily step down from his Olympic roles.

Other members of the Board expected to attend include Olympic silver medallist Sonia O'Sullivan, Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney, and Sarah Keane, the head of Swim Ireland. 

Hickey's Rio-based solicitor Arthur Lavigne claimed he was being held illegally.

"Mr Hickey has been arrested due to suppositions that are not supported by any material evidence or proof of the alleged facts presented by the police," he said. 

"His arrest has no legal support.

"The investigation did not bring one single slight indication that Mr Hickey could be involved with the facts therein investigated, and his detention was required by the police authority under mere assumptions."

The OCI have said that if Hickey is convicted, they will not pay his legal fees.

But if he is not convicted then, under the articles of its association, it will pay them.