Cocaine Seized in Ecuador Features Erling Haaland’s Image
Ecuadorian authorities recently confiscated 469 kilograms of cocaine that surprisingly came with the face of Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland printed on it. This was reported while they were investigating a truck near the Colombian border.
The haul, which is roughly 1,034 pounds, included green rectangular blocks, many marked with stickers of the Manchester City player. The driver of the truck was taken into custody, as stated by the Associated Press.
Drug enforcement agents were conducting an operation on the Pan-American Highway, acting on an anonymous tip-off received early on Tuesday about a questionable vehicle. They unearthed 370 packages cleverly concealed in false compartments. A video released by the police showed the blocks tumbling out, and the Haaland sticker was prominently visible.
A woman, identified only as Maria R. and possessing a Colombian ID, was arrested nearby in an operation in Guagua Negro, close to the border city of Tulcan, which is about 253 miles north of Quito.
The authorities didn’t provide details about the image of Haaland specifically. The Associated Press mentioned that traffickers often brand their products with the names and images of well-known athletes and celebrities, a tactic to indicate which criminal syndicates are behind the drug production and who the intended customers are.
Interestingly, Haaland isn’t the only athlete to be used this way. For instance, a likeness of Argentina’s Lionel Messi was found on another piece of confiscated cargo.
The estimated value of these shipments is around $842,000 in Ecuador, over $11 million in the United States, and more than $19.6 million in Europe. Ecuador acts as a crucial logistics point for drugs being funneled primarily to the U.S., with some also heading to Europe.
Since the World Cup, Haaland’s image has popped up everywhere—from billboards to trading cards, and even on TV. He had an impressive tournament, scoring seven goals in just four games co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. His unique persona and playful humor have led fans to give him nicknames like “Pretty Princess” and “Baby Girl.”
The report of this seizure has sparked a flurry of jokes online.
In a broader context, Ecuador has been making strides in combating drug trafficking. Gangs linked to Colombian and Mexican cartels handle around 80 percent of the narcotics coming from Colombia, with the remainder sourced from Peru. Earlier this year, Ecuador’s military found 1.9 tons of drugs at sea, assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard. They also managed to recover a drug submarine near the Colombian border. In the first half of this year alone, police reported seizing 80 tons of drugs, a notable decrease compared to 215 tons in 2025 and 295 tons in 2024.
