A teary-eyed Pele admitted that his son was involved with a gang of cocaine traffickers arrested by police on Monday.

"Like any father, it's sad to see your son involved with groups like these, being arrested, because he will have to suffer the consequences," Pele said at a press conference at the state police narcotics division headquarters.

Edson Cholbi Nascimento, 35, a former professional soccer player known as Edinho, was among about 50 people arrested Monday in the seaside city of Santos, about 70 kilometres southeast of Sao Paulo.

"Those who know Edinho and lived with him could hardly imagine that this would happen," Pele said. "Unfortunately, I was perhaps working too much and didn't notice. It's regrettable, because I've always fought intensely against drugs and I didn't notice this in my own house."

Nascimento was charged with criminal association with drug traffickers. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

In a statement released to the press, Nascimento said he began using drugs out of curiosity after he quit professional soccer and regretted having set a bad example.

Nascimento was a second-string goalkeeper for eight years on Santos, Pele's former club. He retired from professional soccer in 1999.

The same year, Nascimento was convicted of vehicular homicide for taking part in a 1992 car race on a city street that killed a motorcyclist. He was sentenced to six years in a work-release programme.

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