Ecuadorian police have seized 369kg of cocaine hidden inside a truck near the Colombian border, with the packages carrying stickers featuring the face of Norwegian football star Erling Haaland.
Police said the drugs were discovered on Wednesday after officers acted on an anonymous tip and stopped a suspicious truck on the Pan-American Highway.
A total of 370 packages were reportedly concealed in a false compartment beneath the vehicle.
A woman identified as María R., who was carrying Colombian identification documents, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Authorities said drug traffickers sometimes use images and names of famous athletes and celebrities to identify their criminal networks or intended buyers.
Lionel Messi’s image has also previously appeared on seized drug packages.
The shipment was estimated to be worth about $842,000 in Ecuador, while its value could rise to more than $11 million in the United States and $19.6 million in Europe, according to police estimates.
Ecuador is considered a major transit hub for cocaine trafficking, with criminal groups linked to Colombian and Mexican cartels using the country to move drugs toward North America and Europe.
