Quito, EcuadorAP —
Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland’s face has been appearing on billboards, trading cards and TV screens ever since he became a social media phenomenon after scoring seven goals in four World Cup matches in July.
Now, Ecuadorian police have found his likeness in an unlikely location, printed on a green rectangular package that made up a surprising shipment of cocaine seized in a truck near the Colombian border.
Police said on Wednesday that the driver of the car had been arrested after seizing a stash of 369 kilograms (813 pounds) of cocaine, but they did not explain the sticker, which featured a picture of the golden-haired Norwegian striker.
But it’s common for drug traffickers to label packages with the names of famous athletes or other celebrities as a way to indicate which criminal network makes the product and which customers it belongs to.
Drug enforcement agents are conducting the operation after receiving an anonymous tip early Tuesday morning about a suspicious truck on the Pan American Highway, according to a news release. A search revealed 370 packages hidden in the false bottom of the truck.
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Police released a video of the truck’s false bottom with luggage spilling out and a sticker of Haaland, often referred to by fans as “pretty princess” and “baby girl,” clearly visible.
Haaland was one of the top scorers and most charismatic players at the World Cup in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and his imposing stature and goofy sense of humor sparked a wave of creative viral videos and memes.
Haaland is not the only footballer apparently favored by drug smugglers. Another piece of luggage confiscated also contained a portrait of Argentina captain Lionel Messi.
Ecuador is considered a logistics hub for drug trafficking, where drugs are stockpiled, stored, and distributed via Central American routes, primarily to the United States, but drugs are also shipped to Europe.
Police said a woman identified only as María R., carrying a Colombian identity card, was arrested in a raid on Wednesday in the Guagua Negro neighborhood near the border city of Tulcan, 246 kilometers (153 miles) north of the capital Quito.
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The estimated shipment value is approximately $842,000 in the domestic market, more than $11 million in the United States, and more than $19.6 million (17 million euros) in Europe.
In Ecuador, local criminal organizations affiliated with Colombian and Mexican cartels control routes and transport drugs, 80% of which come from Colombia and the rest from Peru.
In the first half of this year, police reported seizing 80 tons of drugs, and in 2025, authorities seized nearly 215 tons, mainly cocaine. In 2024, the amount will reach approximately 295 tons.
Fix:
This article has been updated to correct the amount of cocaine seized by police.
