Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Saturday, June 13, 2026, 09:02 / Updated Saturday, June 13, 2026 09:02
Peruvian police dressed up as World Cup mascots in a mission to capture a suspected drug trafficker, who they learned was passionate about soccer.
A Peruvian Police brigade has gone viral after their latest mission shared with the public, where they sought to apprehend a suspected drug trafficker.
Today, images from a raid carried out on Wednesday, one day before the start of the World Football Championship, were published on the accounts of the Peruvian Police.
@policiaperu 🚨 #Lima | The police intelligence also saves families 👮♂️🇵🇪 The National Police of Peru executed a strategic operation that allowed the capture of alleged members of a criminal gang dedicated to drug sales. With planning, operative intelligence and a surprising tactic, nuestros agents logaron intervener en una zone where criminality creía tener vantagea. During the police action, they searched for illegal substances and elements of conviction that strengthened the corresponding investigations. This result shows that the PNP does not improvise: it investigates, plans and acts effectively to protect the Peruvian society. Because behind each intervention there is a superior objective: to restore tranquility to the streets, protect our families and reaffirm the trust of Peru in its Police. ✅ Intelligence, strategy and action of your security service. Your security is our priority!!! #PolicíaNacionalDelPerú #PNP #Lima #SeguridadCiudadana ♬ sonido original – Policía Perú
The clip shows two officers dressed as two of the World Championship mascots, Maple the Moose and Clutch the Bald Eagle, as they use a battering ram to break down a metal gate.
When the suspects start to run, the officers' heads fall out of the sponge, but they are finally able to immobilize them.
Police in Peru dressed up as World Cup mascots to capture 'Pichichi' trafficker
The “World Championship Mission”, as the Peruvian Police described it, ended with the capture of an alleged drug trafficker known as “Pichichi”.
“The National Police of Peru executed a strategic operation that allowed the capture of alleged members of a criminal gang dedicated to drug trafficking.
Through planning, operational intelligence and a surprise tactic, our agents were able to intervene in an area where crime thought it had the upper hand.
During the police action, illicit substances and evidence were seized that will strengthen the appropriate investigations”, the institution sent along with the images during the operation.
Colonel Carlos Fredy Alcantara Obregon, the leader of the brigade that carried out the operation, the Green Squad, explained to the Associated Press that “due to the reconnaissance work carried out by the team, we managed to establish that the person we were going to arrest was an ardent football fan who lived and breathed World Cup fever.
So we decided to disguise the Green Squad personnel as World Cup mascots so we could approach him without arousing suspicion and make the arrest.”
It is not the first time that that brigade has come to public attention for the costumes worn during the raids. For example, on Valentine's Day in 2025, officers dressed up as capybaras, and on a Halloween mission they chose Marvel superhero costumes, The Athletic recalls.
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We remind you that the 2026 edition of the World Championship has 3 official mascots, one for each host country: in addition to the Maple Moose and the Clutch Bald Eagle, there is also the Zayu Jaguar, “coming from the jungles of southern Mexico”.
