Days before Christmas, a Peruvian police officer, creatively disguised as the Grinch, apprehended suspected drug traffickers in Lima. 

The operation in San Bartolo led to the arrest of three individuals, according to a video shared by the Peruvian National Police. 

A police X post announced the arrest of “La Reina del Sur,” “La Coneja,” and “Pote,” alleged members of the La Mafia de San Bartolo drug gang. The post also confirmed the seizure of various narcotics.

Video footage shows the officer, wielding what appears to be a sledgehammer, breaking down a door to a home. The officer, in full Grinch costume, is then seen searching the residence.

The suspects were taken into custody, and the “Grinch” officer recovered items associated with drug trafficking.

Peru is a significant cocaine producer and coca cultivator globally. 

The U.S. State Department notes that much of Peru’s cocaine is destined for South America, Europe, the United States, East Asia, and Mexico.

This isn’t the first time Peruvian police have employed such tactics. 

In October 2023, officers dressed as horror movie characters—Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Tiffany Valentine—conducted a similar raid on alleged drug dealers’ residence.