Bertrand Hennet, the 35-year-old chief executive of Elite World, the parent company of the world's biggest model agency, was charged Wednesday with buying and transporting illegal drugs, the official said.

Hennet admitted to snorting up to two grammes of cocaine per night, during questioning by investigators in Versailles west of Paris, but was not charged with supplying the drug. He has been released on bail.

Police arrested the executive, searching his apartment and office, following a bust last month on armed drug dealers, who sold cocaine and cannabis to him and others on the Paris nightclub, film and fashion crowds.

Investigators were still questioning a string of other suspected customers.

Founded in Paris in 1972, Elite Model Management is the top player in the global industry with 800 models on its books, famous for a model scouting contest that draws hundreds of thousands of would-be catwalk stars each year.

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