A popular Brazilian influencer known for her open discussions about cannabis use has been arrested for her alleged role in a drug trafficking operation that police say stretched across state lines.

A Cannabis Influencer Caught South of the Border

Melissa Said, 23, was taken into custody Thursday in Salvador, the capital of Bahia, following a two-day search by local authorities. Police say she had been hiding at a friend’s home in the city’s Itapuã neighborhood after learning that investigators were looking for her. Said, who has more than 375,000 followers on social media, built her brand around lifestyle content, personal reflections, and frequent discussions of marijuana use. Her videos — often shot in bright, relaxed settings — mix cannabis advocacy with influencer-style commentary.

Police Say She Used Social Media To Move Drugs

According to police, her online persona was a front for something much larger. “On digital platforms, she advocated drug use and used her reach to sell marijuana, with suppliers identified in Bahia and São Paulo,” said Ernandes Junior, director of the State Department for Prevention and Suppression of Drug Trafficking (DENARC). In a statement to local press, Junior said investigators believe Said used her following to promote and distribute narcotics through social media. “The objective of this operation is to combat drug trafficking, with the main target being a digital influencer who promotes crime,” he said.

Was She Dealing Through Instagram?

Authorities allege that Said not only encouraged marijuana use but also acted as a broker, purchasing drugs and reselling them to followers who contacted her online. Several other individuals have been arrested as part of the same investigation, which officials describe as an ongoing effort to disrupt trafficking networks operating across northeastern Brazil. Said, meanwhile, is pushing back hard. In a video recorded as she was escorted in handcuffs from a government building — a clip that quickly went viral — she told reporters: “It’s a shame … no one in the world should be arrested for smoking marijuana.” She admitted to using cannabis but denied being involved in any trafficking scheme.

The Influencer Economy

Under current Brazilian law, individuals caught with small quantities for personal use are no longer subject to imprisonment, though selling or distributing cannabis remains a criminal offense. “The influencer economy is pushing into new territory where lifestyle, commerce, and legality intersect,” said one São Paulo attorney familiar with the case. “Melissa’s arrest could become a test case for how Brazilian authorities interpret those boundaries.” As of Friday, Said remained in custody while prosecutors weighed formal trafficking charges. Whether her arrest will chill Brazil’s growing online cannabis movement — or turn her into a symbol for reform — may depend on what investigators uncover next.