The local police reported that an undocumented 32-caliber LW Seecamp pistol was found in the British’s luggage during an X-ray control, which is why he was detained and taken to a center at the Viracopos airport in Campinas.
Ecclestone acknowledged being the owner of the weapon, which had no magazine or ammunition, but argued that he did not know it was in his luggage at the time, police reported to the Brazilian press. In addition, the 91-year-old businessman paid bail and was finally released to travel to Switzerland.
?BREAKING?
Bernie Ecclestone has been arrested in Brazil for trying to travel on a private plane WITH A GUN! https://t.co/qyFPxJdo6Z
— ?? F1 alert?? #MonacoGP?? (@AlertF1) May 26, 2022
The former owner of Formula 1 was with his wife Fabiana Ecclestone, vice president of the FIA and member of the World Motor Sport Council, with whom he attended several events in Brazil, including a race near São Paulo and a meeting with triple world champion Nelson Piquet in Brasilia.
Ecclestone was at the helm of Formula 1 for more than 30 years and almost all his life was linked to motorsports. Currently he has the role of “Honorary President of Formula 1” for Liberty Media, the US capital company that bought FOM’s shares in 2016 and is now in charge.
