Police seize 1,000 pounds of cocaine with stickers of soccer star

Norway's soccer star Erling Haaland's face is now being used in an unexpected way - printed on green rectangular packages as part of a massive cocaine shipment seized by police in Ecuador. The driver was arrested after the 469-kilogram (1,034-pound) stash was found near the Colombian border on Wednesday. Anti-narcotics agents intercepted the vehicle following an anonymous tip in early Tuesday morning on the Pan-American Highway.

Upon searching the truck, they discovered 370 packages hidden in a false bottom. Video footage showed the packages spilling out from the truck, with Haaland's stickers clearly visible. Haaland, one of the top scorers and most charismatic players at the recent World Cup in Mexico, USA, and Canada, had a significant impact on social media with his viral videos and memes.

Ecuador is known as a logistical hub for drug trafficking, where drugs are stored and distributed via Central American routes to the United States and Europe. The shipment is estimated to be worth nearly $842,000 in Ecuador, over $11 million in the U.S., and more than $19.6 million in Europe. Local criminal gangs allied with Colombian and Mexican cartels manage the drug routes, with 80% of narcotics originating in Colombia.

Police have not explained the use of Haaland's image on the packages, but it's common for drug traffickers to label shipments with well-known sports figures and celebrities to identify the producing network and client.