A Brazilian social media influencer known for openly supporting cannabis legalisation has been arrested for allegedly heading a major drug trafficking and money laundering network.

Melissa Said, 23, who has more than 3,50 ,000 followers on Instagram, was detained on Thursday after being on the run for a day. Police accused her of being the leader of an interstate gang involved in the distribution of cannabis and illegal financial operations across Bahia and other regions of Brazil.

According to the New York Post , citing Brazilian news outlet Correio , Said was discovered hiding at a friend’s house in Bahia after an extensive surveillance operation. Her arrest came after officers raided five of her properties as part of “Operation Erva Afetiva" — translated as “weed-loving", the same

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