In a bold and unconventional operation, Peruvian authorities brought some holiday cheer to the fight against drug trafficking, using an unexpected ally – the Grinch. Rather than stealing Christmas, this Grinch took down criminals, snatching up the freedom of local drug traffickers in a dramatic police bust. Dressed in full Grinch costume, a Peruvian officer made an unforgettable entrance to a criminal hideout, wielding a sledgehammer and leading the charge against suspected members of a notorious drug gang.
Footage of the operation, which has since gone viral, shows the officer dressed as the infamous Christmas villain sprinting down the street, sledgehammer in hand. Upon reaching the residence of the suspects, the officer breached the front door with a mighty swing of the hammer, allowing a team of police officers to storm the building. The raid led to the arrest of several individuals, including key members of the La Mafia de San Bartolo gang, known for their involvement in the region’s drug trade. Authorities also seized various narcotics during the raid.
“This is a brilliant operation,” said the police in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter). “In a coordinated effort, agents from the Green Squad arrested individuals known by their aliases as La Reina del Sur, La Coneja, and Pote, all part of the criminal group responsible for drug dealing.”
Peru is considered a major player in the global cocaine trade, with most of the country’s illicit production being exported to the U.S., Europe, and Asia. According to the U.S. State Department, “The majority of cocaine produced in Peru is transported to South American countries for domestic consumption or onward shipment to Europe, the United States, East Asia, and Mexico.”
The Grinch-themed operation received widespread attention, with Fox News highlighting the unorthodox approach. “MEAN GREEN MACHINE: A Peruvian police officer dressed as the Grinch busted suspected drug traffickers in the South American country’s capital days before Christmas, where various narcotics were seized,” Fox tweeted.
This creative law enforcement effort is a timely reminder of the ongoing war on drugs, a fight that has reached new urgency under the leadership of figures like President-elect Donald Trump. Trump has long campaigned on tackling the cartels that drive much of the drug trade flowing into the United States, promising tough action against the organizations that have long wreaked havoc on American communities.
“We have to take over. We have to be tough. We have to be smart. We have to be fair. But if we don’t do something immediately, our country is gone,” Trump declared in a statement last year. “The drug cartels are waging war on America—and it’s now time for America to wage war on the cartels.”
Trump’s plan for addressing the drug crisis includes restoring his tough border policies, deploying military assets to halt drug shipments, and using special forces and covert operations to dismantle cartel networks. He has even called for designating major drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and pushing Congress to ensure that drug smugglers face the death penalty.
While the Grinch may have brought a moment of levity to the otherwise grim world of drug enforcement, it is clear that the war on drugs is no laughing matter. Whether through creative tactics in Peru or tough policies in the U.S., there is a growing recognition that more aggressive action is needed to combat the cartels and their devastating impact on communities both at home and abroad. As Trump prepares to return to the White House, the battle against the cartels is sure to intensify, with the fate of countless lives hanging in the balance.
