Ecuadorian authorities have intercepted a massive cocaine consignment carrying an unusual image: Norway football star Erling Haaland. Anti-narcotics officers seized 469 kilograms (1,034 pounds) of cocaine during a raid on a truck near the Colombian border on Wednesday. The drugs were packed into 370 parcels, many of which carried stickers featuring the face of the Manchester City striker.
The haul was discovered after police received an anonymous tip about a suspicious vehicle travelling along the Pan-American Highway. Officers stopped and searched the truck before uncovering a concealed compartment containing the cocaine.
Authorities also arrested a suspect during the operation. Police have not explained why Haaland’s image was used on the packages, although using pictures, names or symbols associated with famous personalities is a known tactic among drug trafficking organisations to identify shipments or indicate their intended recipients.
Footage released by Ecuadorian police showed officers removing the packages from the truck’s hidden compartment. The green-wrapped parcels prominently displayed images of Haaland.
The Norwegian forward became one of the most recognisable faces of the recent World Cup after scoring seven goals in four matches. His performances, imposing appearance and playful personality also made him a major figure across social media, where fans have frequently turned him into memes and viral content.
Haaland, however, is not the first football superstar whose likeness has been found on suspected drug shipments. Lionel Messi’s image has also appeared on packages seized by authorities, according to reports.
Ecuador has emerged as a key transit point in the international cocaine trade, with criminal groups using the country to move narcotics towards Central America and, ultimately, markets in the United States and Europe.
Police said the latest seizure took place near Guagua Negro, close to the border city of Tulcan, around 246 kilometres (153 miles) north of Quito. A woman identified as Mara R., who was carrying Colombian identification documents, was also arrested.
Authorities estimated that the cocaine would have been worth around $842,000 on Ecuador’s domestic market. Its potential value rises sharply overseas, with estimates of more than $11 million in the United States and over $19.6 million (17 million euros) in Europe.
Ecuadorian authorities say domestic criminal groups, often working with Colombian and Mexican cartels, control much of the country’s trafficking network. Around 80% of the cocaine moving through Ecuador is believed to originate in Colombia, with the remainder coming from Peru.
The scale of Ecuador’s drug problem has continued to grow. Police seized approximately 80 tonnes of drugs during the first half of this year, after confiscating nearly 215 tonnes in 2025. The figure was even higher in 2024, when authorities reported seizing almost 295 tonnes, most of it cocaine.
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