Haaland’s image found on cocaine packages seized in Ecuador

Friday 14 August 2026 - 22:00

By: Azzat Manal

Haaland’s image found on cocaine packages seized in Ecuador

Norwegian football star Erling Haaland has unexpectedly appeared on the packaging of a large cocaine shipment seized by Ecuadorian authorities, attracting international attention because of the Manchester City striker’s image being used on the drug packages.

Ecuadorian police said officers arrested a truck driver after discovering hundreds of kilograms of cocaine during an anti-narcotics operation on a major highway. Authorities reported finding hundreds of packages concealed inside a hidden compartment in the vehicle.

Police footage showed the seized packages bearing an image of Haaland as officers removed them from the truck. The footballer has no connection to the drug shipment, and his image appears to have been used by those involved in the trafficking operation without any indication of his involvement.

Ecuador has become an important transit and logistics hub in the international cocaine trade because of its geographic position and access to major ports. Drug trafficking networks have increasingly used the country as a route for shipments destined for North America and Europe.

Authorities estimated that the seized cocaine could have a value of hundreds of thousands of dollars on the Ecuadorian market and considerably more if it reached international destinations.

The unusual discovery also recalls previous cases in which images of internationally recognized footballers have appeared on drug packages. Argentine star Lionel Messi was reportedly featured on cocaine packaging seized by authorities in the United States in an earlier case.

The incident highlights the ways in which criminal organizations sometimes use recognizable images and branding to distinguish their illicit shipments. For Haaland, however, the appearance of his image on the packages is unrelated to his sporting career and does not indicate any connection to the criminal activity.