A sexy Brazilian influencer has been arrested after cops found she had at least three illegal sunbeds in her business, which have been banned since 2009.

Brazil became the first country in the world to ban indoor tanning for cosmetic purposes when the restrictions came into force more than a decade ago, toughening up looser rules introduced in 2002 which banned minors from using sunbeds.

But influencer Mayara Lima Correa, 32, who became famous for promoting healthy tanning and claimed her business offered the opportunity for people to legally gain a healthy tan, has now been busted.

Cops who raided the tanning studio of the influencer, who has more than 200,000 followers on Instagram, where she describes herself as a “tanning expert”, said they had seized three illegal sunbeds.

They are also investigating allegations that she was fraudulently obtaining luxury goods online and then cancelling the payments.

She was arrested and remanded in custody in Itajai, Brazil, on Monday, 30th January.

Her lawyer Franklin Assis later successfully applied for her to be released while authorities decided whether or not to file formal charges against her.

Several items were reportedly seized from the businesswoman’s residence in the São Vicente neighbourhood, along with five illegal tanning beds.

Public health officials were alerted by cops and confirmed that they had slapped a ban on the premises from trading further, ordering the beauty salon to remain closed while the investigation continues.

Brazil and later Australia both introduced bans on tanning beds because ultraviolet light is known to cause cancer. In the US, alone some 419,000 cases of skin cancer are linked to indoor tanning.