Peruvian police officers infiltrate as World Cup mascots to dismantle drug cartel in Lima
Agents of an elite unit in Lima carried out an operation against a drug trafficking organisation using disguises of the official characters from the 2026 World Cup, generating widespread repercussion on social media.
Peruvian police officers infiltrate as World Cup mascots to dismantle drug cartel in Lima
A police operation conducted in the Peruvian capital went viral on the internet after it was revealed that agents intervened against a drug cartel whilst dressed in the suits of the official characters of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The operation was carried out by a tactical intervention unit in Lima. The officers presented themselves at the scene dressed in the costumes of the emblematic characters of the tournament: Maple the Moose, a moose, and Clutch the Bald Eagle, a bald eagle.
The action took place as part of an investigation into a drug trafficking network operating in Peruvian territory. The peculiar camouflage strategy adopted by the police officers allowed them to approach their targets without arousing suspicion, taking advantage of the atmosphere of anticipation generated by the international tournament.
The episode, which took place during the second day of the 2026 World Cup, occurred outside the host nations of the sporting event. Peru, a South American country that is not part of the tournament's organisers, was the scene of this unusual intervention that combined intelligence work with an unexpected sports disguise.
The commander who led the raid offered statements about the development of the mission, highlighting the effectiveness of the method employed to surprise the alleged members of the criminal organisation.
The news was originally reported by Denník N.
Source: Denník N