Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu red belt Relson Gracie was arrested at dawn on Saturday (25) when transporting skunk and marijuana derivatives on the Presidente Dutra Highway, which connects Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Gracie was on an interstate bus. The information was released by the newspaper O Dia. The former jiu-jitsu fighter and martial art teacher was indicted for drug trafficking. The penalty varies from 5 to 15 years in prison.
According to the publication, the arrest took place at Piraí, in the south of Rio de Janeiro. The narcotics were in a suitcase and were found by the dogs K9 Bud and K9 Stella. The important name of Jiu-Jitsu was arrested by agents of the Federal Highway Police (PRF), during the inspection.
Police found vials of skunk, stronger marijuana, and derivatives of the drug in various formats, according to the newspaper. Relson is 66 years old, a Jiu-Jitsu red belt and a former fighter. He also became known for popularizing Jiu-Jitsu in Hawaii.
At the time of the action, the police identified the owner of the suitcases, opened and found several bottles containing skunk, a more potent marijuana, and derivatives of the drug in various formats – cream, oil and grass. With it, an international airline ticket was found Los Angeles x São Paulo indicating the possibility of the material being of foreign origin.
One of Relson Gracie’s black belts, Mike Stewart of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Maryland, talks about the arrest and shared his thoughts on his instructor’s unfortunate situation:
