Ecuador police seize 469kg of cocaine marked with Erling Haaland's face

Ecuadorian police seized approximately 469 kilograms of cocaine during an operation on the Pan-American Highway near the Colombian border. The shipment was discovered in a truck near Guagua Negro, south of Tulcán, after authorities received an anonymous tip regarding a suspicious vehicle.

Officers found 370 green rectangular packages hidden within a false bottom of the truck. Notably, many of the packages were marked with stickers featuring the face and name of Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland, along with images of a soccer ball and the World Cup trophy. Some packages also reportedly featured the image of Lionel Messi.

Authorities stated that drug trafficking organizations frequently use the images or names of celebrities and athletes as a form of “criminal branding” to identify specific shipments, criminal networks, or intended clients. There is no evidence linking Haaland or Messi to the illegal cargo.

A Colombian national, identified as María R., was arrested during the operation. The estimated value of the cocaine is approximately $842,000 in the Ecuadorian market, while its value in Europe is estimated to be over €17 million.