Two Peruvian police officers carried out an unusual undercover operation by disguising themselves as official FIFA World Cup mascots to arrest a suspected drug dealer who was reportedly a devoted football fan.
Dressed as Clutch, the American bald eagle mascot, and Maple, the Canadian moose mascot, the officers arrived at the home of 48-year-old Carlos Cabrera while the opening World Cup match between Mexico and South Africa was being played.
Authorities said the timing was intentional. Investigators believed Cabrera was closely following the tournament, allowing members of Peru's Green Squadron, a police unit specializing in street crime, to approach without raising suspicion.
According to reports, officers used a sledgehammer to force entry before the rest of the team moved in. During the operation, police allegedly recovered a firearm and 2,524 packets of cocaine base.
The Green Squadron is known for using creative disguises during operations. In previous arrests, officers have gone undercover as characters including Deadpool, Wolverine, Freddy Krueger, the Grinch, and Santa Claus.
Similar tactics have been used elsewhere. In 2025, two police officers in London reportedly dressed as Batman and Robin while carrying out an operation targeting an illegal gambling network after suspects had begun recognizing officers in plain clothes.