RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) – Brazilian police have detained and charged a French policeman on holiday in Rio for using cannabis and trying to bribe officers.

“According to information from the Mem de Sa (district) police station, he was questioned for drugs use and active corruption,” a police spokesman told AFP.

The 27-year-old was found to have a joint and two sachets of cannabis on him and had offered Brazilian police cash to let him go, the spokesman added.

Via an interpreter, the Frenchman, who admitted to drug-taking, said he had been told in France that offering a bribe to Brazilian police — which he also admitted — could secure release.

Brazil’s G1 news portal quoted the policeman as saying he arrived in the country last month and had planned to leave in 10 days.

He is not with a French delegation working with Brazilian counterparts at the World Cup.