Pete Doherty is arrested in Paris for 'buying cocaine' – Daily Mail, Dailymail.co.uk

British pop star Pete Doherty was today arrested in Paris during an alleged street drug deal witnessed by police.

The 40 – year-old Libertines singer was said to be drunk and in possession of cocaine when approached by officers at around 3am on Friday .

He was arrested in the Pigalle district, an area known for its late-night bars.

‘The suspect was arrested in the Pigalle district, and was carrying two grams of cocaine,’ said an investigating source .

‘The allegation is that he was involved in an illegal street transaction at the time. He was drunk, and did not comply with the police to begin with, but was eventually taken to a police car. ‘

Doherty was taken into custody in central Paris and then placed under formal criminal investigation, said the source.

The source said Doherty was suspected of being ‘under the influence of both drugs and alcohol’ at the time of his arrest, and tests were carried out after he was taken into custody.

A spokesman for Paris prosecutors confirmed that Doherty was ‘placed in detention’ in the early hours of Friday morning, and faced drug related charges.

Doherty can be held for 24 hours at a police station, before either being charged or released.

This custody period can be doubled to 48 hours if prosecutors believe that detectives or an examining magistrate need extra time for questioning.

Cocaine is a banned drug in France, where possession for personal use is punishable with a prison sentence of up to a year, plus a fine.

This maximum sentence can be increased if there are aggravating factors, such as someone in possession endangering other people.

The Pigalle area of ​​Paris is known for its illegal trade in street drugs, where two grammes of cocaine can be bought for the equivalent of around £ 250.

Doherty is a frequent visitor to Paris, and often spends long periods living and performing in the French capital.

Some passers-by recognized the Babyshambles singer and may have filmed his arrest on their phones, according to French media.

Doherty, the ex-boyfriend of supermodel Kate Moss, has previously been arrested for drug possession, car theft and driving offences.

In the past, he has pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and ketamine.