Two Peruvian police officers used a unique approach to arrest a suspected drug dealer in Lima. Disguised as World Cup mascots Clutch and Maple, the officers successfully apprehended Carlos Cabrera, 48, during Mexico’s match against South Africa.
Col. Carlos Alcántara, leading the Green Squadron, a crime-fighting unit, highlighted the effective use of the undercover strategy. ‘Through intelligence work, we learned Cabrera was a football enthusiast, and the World Cup was the perfect chance to approach him unnoticed,’ he explained.
The arrest involved officers in mascot costumes using a metal sledgehammer to breach a door, with video evidence shared on social media. Clutch, the U.S. mascot, is a bald eagle. Maple, representing Canada, is a moose. These costumes allowed police to collect evidence and detain the suspect smoothly.
Authorities discovered 2,524 cocaine base packets and a firearm during the raid. In Peru, possessing 5 to 50 grams of cocaine base can lead to three to seven years of imprisonment under micro-trafficking laws.
Peruvian police have previously used disguises such as fictional characters, including the Grinch, Freddy Krueger, Deadpool, Wolverine, and even Santa Claus, to arrest suspects stealthily. In 2024, an officer dressed as a bear used Valentine’s gifts to coax a female drug suspect from her home.
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