Police in Brazil say a woman running for political office was using cocaine to encourage people to vote for her.

Carme Cristina da Silva Lima was running for a city councilor position in the Amazonas city of Itacoatiara.

Early Sunday, election day, police noticed Lima, who was in a vehicle with another person, surrounded by a large group of people. When they went to investigate, the crowd quickly dispersed.

Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered the election leaflets Lima had been giving out each a small packet of cocaine attached.

The 32-year-old has now been charged with electoral corruption and drug dealing.

Should she be convicted, Lima would be ineligible for public office for at least eight years.

Police chief Daniel Ottoni told a Brazilian website, ‘According to locals, she had been distributing the drugs since early in the morning, on condition that people vote for her.’