Peruvian police use 2026 World Cup mascot costumes as disguises to make arrest in drug raid

Peruvian police agents dressed as two of the three 2026 World Cup mascots — Maple the Moose, who represents Canada, and Clutch the Bald Eagle, who stands for the United States — are going viral for the arrest they made during a drug raid in Lima, Peru.

Footage of the arrest was posted on TikTok by the National Police of Peru. The agents are seen wearing the giant, normally kid-friendly disguises while bashing through a metal gate with a battering ram. Their costume heads fell off as they swiftly made their way to the suspect. Later in the clip, they’re shown pinning down the suspect and examining the suspect’s contraband. The spliced footage also includes humorous moments where the agents, with their mascot heads back on, are posing with the arrested suspect.

Advertisement

The only 2026 World Cup mascot missing from the successful drug raid? Zayu the Jaguar, who symbolizes the third host nation, Mexico.

Colonel Carlos Fredy Alcántara Obregón told The Associated Press that the arrest occurred during this year’s World Cup opener, a match that saw Mexico defeat South Africa 2-0 on Thursday. He explained that the two undercover agents captured the 48-year-old Carlos Cabrera.

“Thanks to intelligence work, we realized that this person was a diehard football fan and was caught up in World Cup fever,” said Obregón, the head of a Green Squadron unit that combats common crime, per the AP. “Therefore, we decided to disguise personnel as World Cup mascots so we could approach him without raising suspicion and apprehend him.”

As reported by the AP, police said 2,524 packets of cocaine base and a gun were uncovered in the operation. When a person in Peru is found with five to 50 grams of cocaine base, they can face three to seven years in prison, according to the AP.

Advertisement

This reportedly isn’t the first time the Peruvian police have turned to the art of disguise.

Last year on Valentine’s Day, a capybara outfit assisted another arrest in Lima. Marvel superhero costumes have also been used to help carry out probes.