Overview
- The Green Squadron arrested 48-year-old Carlos Cabrera during the World Cup opening match on Thursday after approaching him in mascot costumes.
- Officers wore official 2026 FIFA mascots Clutch and Maple, battered down a gate with a sledgehammer and moved in to detain the suspect as shown in police footage.
- Police reported seizing 2,524 packets of cocaine base and a firearm, a quantity that far exceeds micro‑trafficking thresholds under Peruvian law.
- The National Police posted the raid on its official TikTok with the caption referencing the suspect as “Pichichi,” and the clip quickly went viral and drew international coverage.
- The operation adds to a pattern of the Green Squadron using elaborate disguises in stings and raises questions about the role of publicity, evidence handling and policing tactics as the case moves through Peru’s legal process.