Ecuadorian police have seized 469 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a truck near the country’s border with Colombia, with the packages carrying stickers featuring the image of Norwegian football star Erling Haaland.
The seizure was made during an anti-narcotics operation near Guagua Negro, close to the border city of Tulcán, following an anonymous tip about a suspicious vehicle travelling along the Pan-American Highway. Police discovered 370 packages of cocaine concealed inside a false compartment in the truck.
The unusual packaging immediately attracted attention. The green-wrapped packages were marked with images of Haaland, the Manchester City and Norway striker who recently drew global attention for his performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Police have not said why the traffickers used Haaland’s image on the cocaine packages. However, authorities and drug-trafficking experts have previously noted that criminal organisations sometimes use images, symbols or names of celebrities to identify particular shipments, criminal networks or intended recipients.
Haaland is not the first football star whose likeness has appeared on seized drug shipments. Images of other prominent players, including Argentina captain Lionel Messi, have also reportedly been found on packages confiscated in drug-trafficking operations.
The seizure resulted in the arrest of a suspect identified as María R., a woman carrying Colombian identification documents. Authorities said the operation took place in the Carchi area, about 246 kilometres north of Ecuador’s capital, Quito.
The authorities estimated the seized cocaine to be worth nearly $842,000 on Ecuador’s domestic market. Its potential value rises significantly in international markets, with estimates putting it at more than $11 million in the United States and over $19.6 million in Europe.
The discovery highlights Ecuador’s role as an important transit and logistics point for international cocaine trafficking. Drugs originating mainly from Colombia and Peru are often moved through Ecuador before being transported toward markets in North America and Europe.
Ecuadorian authorities have intensified their anti-narcotics operations in recent years. Police reported seizing about 80 tonnes of drugs during the first half of 2026, following seizures of nearly 215 tonnes in 2025 and approximately 295 tonnes in 2024.
For Haaland, there is no indication that the footballer or his representatives had any connection to the shipment. His image appears to have been used solely as a marker on the illicit packages.
The bizarre discovery has nevertheless drawn international attention, turning what began as a routine anti-drug operation near Ecuador’s Colombian border into an unusual story involving one of football’s most recognisable stars.
Discover more from Scoop Hub
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
