Police in Ecuador seized 469 kilograms (1,034 pounds) of cocaine hidden in a truck’s false bottom; many green packages bore stickers of soccer star Erling Haaland. The operation, prompted by an anonymous tip on the Pan‑American Highway, led to the arrest of a suspect identified as María R. near Tulcán. Authorities said Ecuador is a regional transshipment hub and estimated the shipment’s value at nearly $842,000 domestically and over $11 million in the U.S. Investigators noted traffickers often brand consignments with celebrity images to identify networks and clients.
Ecuador Seizes 469 kg Cocaine Shipment Branded With Erling Haaland Stickers
This image from a video released by Ecuador National Police shows alleged bricks of cocaine which Ecuadorian police removed from a truck in Carchi, Ecuador, Aug. 12, 2026. / Credit: Ecuador National Police via AP
Police in Ecuador intercepted a truck near the Colombian border and discovered 469 kilograms (1,034 pounds) of cocaine wrapped in green rectangular packages bearing stickers of Norway’s soccer star Erling Haaland, authorities said.
Anti-narcotics agents, acting on an anonymous tip, stopped the vehicle on the Pan-American Highway and found 370 packages hidden in a false bottom, a police statement said. Video released by investigators shows bundles tumbling from the truck’s false floor with Haaland’s image clearly visible on many parcels. The driver was arrested during the operation.
In this image from a video released by Ecuador National Police, Ecuadorian police remove alleged bricks of cocaine from a truck in Carchi, Ecuador, Aug. 12, 2026. / Credit: Ecuador National Police via AP
Suspect and Location
Authorities identified one person detained as a woman named only as María R., who was carrying Colombian identity documents. She was arrested in the Guagua Negro area near the border city of Tulcán, about 246 kilometres (153 miles) north of Quito.
Value, Routes and Context
Police estimated the seizure’s domestic street value at nearly $842,000, while placing its worth at more than $11 million in the United States and over $19.6 million (17 million euros) in Europe. Ecuador has increasingly been used as a logistical hub for trafficking: narcotics are stockpiled and forwarded along Central American routes primarily bound for the United States, with substantial shipments also heading to Europe. Police said local gangs, working with Colombian and Mexican cartels, manage these routes; roughly 80% of the drugs originate in Colombia and the remainder in Peru.
A beachgoer found nearly $500,000 worth of cocaine wrapped in
Branding And Precedents
Authorities provided no explanation for the choice of Haaland’s image. Investigators noted, however, that criminal networks commonly label consignments with the names or images of famous athletes or pop-culture characters to identify the producing organization or the intended buyer. Argentine captain Lionel Messi has appeared on other seized packages.
Similar branded recoveries have turned up elsewhere: a Florida beachgoer found cocaine packaged in “Yosemite Sam” wrapping, tourists discovered a dune‑buggy‑themed package, boaters recovered bundles printed with bald eagles, and sheriff’s office images showed packages marked “Nike SB” with imitation swoosh logos.
Recent Seizure Statistics
Police cited large-scale confiscations in recent years: 80 tons seized in the first half of this year, nearly 215 tons in 2025 (primarily cocaine) and almost 295 tons in 2024.
Investigations into the haul are ongoing as authorities continue to trace the shipment’s origins and distribution links.
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