Former Brazilian president Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva has been detained as part of a broader investigation into corruption in the state-owned oil company Petrobras, the BBC reported.
It was stated that the house of the former president was searched by agents of the federal police and that he was taken for questioning.
Lula, who was in power until 2011, has denied allegations of corruption.
The long-running investigation, known as "Operation Laundry", includes allegations of corruption and money laundering at Petrobras.
The police claim to have evidence that Lula received illegal funds in the form of bribes.
Brazilian officials said 33 search warrants and 11 arrest warrants were issued, and that 200 federal agents in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Bahia participated in the operation.
Lula's house in Sao Bernardo do Campo, near Sao Paulo, was searched early this morning. The target of the search was also the headquarters of his institute in Sao Paulo, as well as his wife Marisa and sons.
Lula, as a representative of the Workers' Party, was president of Brazil for two terms, and his protégé Dilma Rousseff succeeded him in office.
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