Former Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has reportedly been arrested in Brazil for illegally carrying a gun while boarding a private plane to Switzerland.
Reuters have reported that Ecclestone, 91, was arrested on Wednesday after Brazilian police found an undocumented LW Seecamp .32 gun in his luggage during an X-ray screening.
The Briton was taken to a facility at Viracopos airport in Campinas, in the state of Sao Paulo.
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Ecclestone acknowledged owning the gun but said he was unaware that it was in his luggage at the time, according to the report.
He was later freed and allowed to travel to Switzerland after paying bail.
Ecclestone is married to Brazilian-born Fabiana Ecclestone, 46, an FIA vice-president and member of the World Motor Sport Council.
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He is said to have attended several races motorsport events in the South American country in May and also met with triple Formula One world champion Nelson Piquet in Brasilia this month.
Ecclestone transformed Formula One from a niche racing competition to a global sport during his four decades at the helm.
He was chief executive of the company until 2017, when he was removed from the position following Liberty Media's takeover.
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Away from Formula One, Ecclestone also had a spell as an owner of Queens Park Rangers between 2007 and 2011, jointly taking charge of the club with business partner Flavio Briatore.
Ecclestone, is estimated to have a net worth of around $3bn (£2.38bn), has been married three times, has four children, five grandchildren and is a great grandfather.
His most recent child, Alexander, was born in July 2020 – just months before his 90th birthday.
Topics: Formula 1
Rory O'Callaghan