Sergio Roberto de Carvalho, known simply as “Mayor Carvalho,” was arrested in cooperation with Interpol and Hungarian police, Brazil’s Federal Police said in a statement, describing him as “one of the biggest international traffickers today.”

According to Brazilian media, Carvalho is a former policeman who has long lived in Europe under a false identity.

He was arrested in Spain but after posting bail, faked his death of Covid-19 in 2020 and disappeared from the radar, TV Globo reported last year.

The police statement said more than 500 million reais (some US$100 million) have been seized from the criminal organisation Carvalho was said to lead.

The organisation is accused of smuggling tonnes cocaine to Europe via Brazil and laundering the proceeds.