THIS is the bizarre moment a sledgehammer-wielding Grinch dramatically stole Christmas from a drug gang.
An alleged cocaine-dealing family, looking to cash in over the festive period, was dramatically stopped in their tracks by the Christmas-hating character.
Police in Lima, Peru, used an unusual method to round up a criminal family and take control of Santa’s naughty list.
Peruvian cops used Dr. Seuss’ infamous character to get close to a drug distribution centre, in the city’s southern district of San Bartolo, without raising suspicions.
Bizarre footage showed one officer climbing into the distinctive dayglo green Grinch costume complete with a Santa suit.
The cop’s festive dress was not complete without a huge sledgehammer over his shoulder.
This detective Grinch’s final accessory was a group of heavily armed Terna Squad cops following behind.
Video from the national police agency also showed the Grinch and his colleagues raiding the building where they discovered the alleged crime clan.
They also found thousands of individual hits of the drug ready-wrapped for sale to users at Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties.
Elsewhere they discovered bagfulls of cocaine paste ready for cutting and packaging, local media reported on 22nd December.
The strange video did not end there as at one point the Grinch cop, still in full costume, seemed to give one of the suspects a finger-wagging telling off.
This crime-busting festive officer also embraced the film character’s odd side as he danced for the camera and issued a warning to lawbreakers.
The green cop said: “I hate Christmas and criminals.”
Three suspects were arrested in the unique drug bust.
One of the suspects was identified as Eva Espinoza Maza, reportedly known as the Queen of the South by drugs police.
Her siblings, Norka Espinoza Maza, 24, and Fidel Espinoza Maza, 26, were also arrested.
The head of the Peruvian Nation Police Terna Squad explained why his force used the unusual disguise.
Colonel Carlos Lopez Aedo said: “Using the ingenuity and cunning of the Terna Group, we used the Grinch.”
This festive shocker has not been the first time this Lima police unit has dressed its agents in costumes.
A suspected drug dealer was arrested by a cop dressed as a teddy bear on Valentine’s Day.
