Police in Ecuador have discovered cocaine shipments bearing the image of Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland. The discovery was made during an operation that led to the seizure of 469 kilograms (1,034 pounds) of cocaine in a truck near the Colombian border.
The driver of the vehicle was arrested following the seizure, which occurred on Wednesday. Anti-narcotics agents conducted the operation after receiving an anonymous tip on the Pan-American Highway and locating a suspicious truck. A search revealed 370 packages of cocaine concealed within a false bottom.
Drug traffickers commonly use the names and images of well-known sports figures and celebrities to label their shipments. This practice is often used to signify which criminal network produced the merchandise and which client it is intended for.
Police released a video showing the packages, each marked with stickers featuring Haaland. The soccer star gained significant social media popularity for scoring seven goals in four World Cup matches in July and is known for his charismatic presence and humorous online persona.
Haaland is not the only prominent soccer player whose image has been found on drug shipments. The image of Argentine national team captain Lionel Messi has also been observed on other seized packages.
Ecuador serves as a logistical hub for drug trafficking, stockpiling and distributing drugs through Central American routes primarily to the United States, but also to Europe. In the recent operation, a woman identified as María R., possessing Colombian identity documents, was arrested.
The estimated value of the seized cocaine is approximately $842,000 domestically, over $11 million in the U.S. market, and more than $19.6 million in Europe. Local criminal gangs aligned with Colombian and Mexican cartels manage the drug routes originating primarily from Colombia and Peru. Ecuadorian police reported seizing 80 tons of drugs in the first half of the year, with significant quantities confiscated in previous years as well.