Video released on Saturday by Peruvian National Police shows an officer from the urban intelligence tactical division, known as the Green Squad, dressed as Santa Claus breaking down a door with a sledgehammer and helping to detain a suspect.
Undercover Santa, sledgehammer help carry out drug bust: VIDEO
Green Squad chief Walter Palomino said the place where the drugs were being sold was hard to access, so the Santa disguise was used to get close to the scene without alerting locals to the police action.
Local media said two men, aged 25 and 32, were arrested for selling cocaine and marijuana. In keeping with the seasonal spirit, authorities nicknamed the dealers the Evil Reindeer gang.