The face and name of Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland have appeared in an unexpected place after police in Ecuador seized 469 kilograms of cocaine packaged with Haaland’s likeness.
According to a report by CNN, anti-narcotics agents intercepted a suspicious truck on the Pan-American Highway near the Colombian border after receiving an anonymous tip.
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Officers uncovered 370 rectangular packages hidden inside a secret compartment in the vehicle, leading to the arrest of a Colombian woman identified by authorities as María R.
The seized narcotics carry an estimated value of 11 million dollars in the United States and more than 19.6 million dollars in Europe.
Haaland has sometimes humored fans with jokes about wanting to be everywhere on the pitch, but this is definitely not what he had in mind.
Drug traffickers frequently print pictures of famous athletes, major brands, or international celebrities on their drug bricks to serve as a secret logo.
These unique stickers help criminal organizations track which group produced the product and identify which buyers are supposed to receive the specific delivery.
The soccer star recently became a massive viral sensation across social media after scoring seven goals in four matches during the World Cup.
He is not the first sports icon to have his likeness stolen by cartels, as news media noted that police have previously discovered similar illegal shipments branded with the face of Argentine legend Lionel Messi.
