Police in Ecuador have seized 1,034 pounds (469 kg) of cocaine concealed in a truck near the Colombian border, authorities announced on August 12, 2026. The shipment consisted of 370 packages hidden in a false bottom of the vehicle, according to a statement from Ecuador’s National Police.
Authorities arrested a woman identified only as María R., who was found with Colombian identity documents during the operation near Guagua Negro, close to the border city of Tulcán. The seizure occurred on the Pan-American Highway following an anonymous tip received early Tuesday morning, prompting anti-narcotics agents to conduct a search of the suspicious truck.
Video released by police shows the packages spilling from the truck’s concealed compartment, with green rectangular bricks bearing the face of Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland clearly visible on stickers. Ecuadorian officials did not immediately explain why Haaland’s image was used on the packaging.
Ecuador as a drug trafficking hub
Ecuador serves as a major logistical center for drug trafficking, where narcotics are stockpiled and distributed primarily to the United States via Central American routes. Smugglers have previously used the images of high-profile athletes and celebrities on drug packages to identify their criminal networks or as a form of branding. Haaland is not the first World Cup star to have his likeness associated with illicit shipments; Argentine captain Lionel Messi has also been featured on similar packaging in past cases.
The estimated street value of the seized cocaine has not been disclosed by authorities. The investigation is ongoing, with no further details provided about the intended destination of the shipment or the broader criminal organization involved.