Cocaine Shipment in Ecuador Had Packages Featuring a Football Star’s Face

Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland’s face appeared on packages in a major cocaine shipment seized by Ecuadorian authorities. The drugs, weighing 469 kilograms, were discovered in a truck near the country’s northern border with Colombia. The packages, each wrapped in green paper with Haaland-themed stickers, were hidden inside the truck using a false compartment.

The seizure, which occurred near the city of Tulcan, involved the arrest of a woman identified as Maria R. The footballer was not connected to the drugs, according to police. Drug trafficking organizations frequently use recognizable images like celebrities, cartoon characters, or symbols to label their shipments, serving as internal codes for the organization, the recipient, or other details about the cargo.

The unusual branding on this shipment did not suggest any direct link between Haaland and the criminal organization behind it. Ecuador plays a significant role in the international cocaine trade, with approximately 80% of the drugs passing through the country originating in Colombia and the rest from Peru. The seizures illustrate the importance of Ecuador as a logistical hub for drug trafficking, with routes extending to North America and Europe.