A former international catwalk star who once modelled for global fashion houses and married a supermodel has been arrested for drug trafficking after police tracked him down on a beach following an earlier escape from officers.
The arrest took place in the city of Florianopolis, on the island of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil, on 21st February.
Accused Alvaro Jacomossi Junior, 45, was detained following a day-long monitoring operation led by officers from the Drug Enforcement Division (DECOD) of the Criminal Investigation Department (DIC) of Florianopolis.
Jacomossi, who is originally from Blumenau, previously worked internationally as a model and walked for brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein, Prada and Ralph Lauren.
He was formerly married to Brazilian supermodel Isabeli Fontana, with whom he has a son. He was together with Dutch model Sharon Van der Knapp, who he met during a L’Oreal campaign in Argentina, and with whom he had a daughter.
Police said he is suspected of supplying drugs at high-end parties in the eastern region of the island.
Officers began monitoring him in the morning when he went to the beach accompanied by his partner.
Later in the day, he was approached and arrested.
Authorities said he attempted to resist arrest but was restrained by officers with support from the Municipal Guard.
He was taken to a police station, where legal procedures were carried out, and remains at the disposal of the judiciary.
The arrest came 11 days after he escaped a previous police operation on 10th February.
On that occasion, three search and seizure warrants were executed at a guesthouse in Praia da Joaquina.
Police said Jacomossi fled by jumping out of a window and running into a wooded area when officers arrived.
During that earlier operation, officers said they seized quantities of hashish and cocaine, as well as an unregistered firearm fitted with an extended magazine and ammunition. His mobile phone was also seized for forensic analysis as part of the investigation.
Police allege he had been involved in drug trafficking in the Lagoa da Conceicao area for at least four months, including supplying narcotics to guests at a guesthouse.
The suspect reportedly has a history of violent behaviour, including previous records of fleeing police approaches and using violence against security agents.
In 2012, he was arrested in Rio de Janeiro after firing shots inside a condominium and was later released on bail.
In a statement, his defence said the temporary arrest is a precautionary measure and does not represent a definitive judgment of guilt, adding that all legal steps are being taken to safeguard his constitutional rights, including the presumption of innocence.
