Erling Haaland was undoubtedly one of the breakout stars of the last World Cup, becoming a social media sensation with nearly 30 million new followers on his official Instagram account. He backed that up with seven goals in four games during the tournament in North America. But on Wednesday, Ecuadorian police found the Norwegian star's likeness in a particularly surprising place: on green rectangular packages that were part of a huge cocaine shipment seized from a truck near the border with Colombia.
According to a report by The Associated Press, the truck driver was arrested after police seized the shipment Wednesday, containing 469 kilograms of cocaine. The shipment is estimated to be worth nearly $842,000 on the local market, more than $11 million in the United States and more than $19.6 million in Europe ($17 million).
Ecuadorian police found the Erling Haaland's likeness in a particularly surprising place
(Photo: Screenshot)
Police did not provide an explanation for the stickers bearing the image of the blond Norwegian striker. However, according to the report, the practice is common in the drug-smuggling world: Drug traffickers mark their shipments with the names or likenesses of famous athletes and other celebrities to indicate which criminal network produced the drugs and which customer they are intended for.
A news release said anti-narcotics agents were conducting an operation following an anonymous tip received early Tuesday morning on the Pan-American Highway when they noticed a suspicious truck. After searching it, they found 370 packages hidden in a false bottom of the truck.
Police released a video showing the packages spilling out of the truck's false compartment, with the stickers bearing Haaland's likeness clearly visible.
Haaland, it turns out, is not the only soccer star to have apparently received the "affection" of drug smugglers. The likeness of Argentina captain Lionel Messi has also previously appeared on another seized package.