Police in Ecuador on Tuesday found 1,000 pounds of cocaine bearing the image of Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland tucked into a false bottom of a truck near the Colombian border.
The Manchester City striker shot to global fame during the World Cup as his humor and charm captivated audiences, and Norway’s national team reached the quarterfinals for the first time.
The discovery of the 350 green packages stamped with Haaland’s image was announced in a news release from the Ecuador National Police.
Organized crime experts say images of politicians and celebrities are often used by drug cartels to mark their products, ease transportation and reflect quality.
The cocaine bust led to the arrest Wednesday of a woman with Colombian and Ecuadorian citizenship, officials said. Ecuador is a logistical hub for drug trafficking to the United States and Europe.
The cocaine had an estimated value of more than $11 million, officials said.
Catch up quickly every weekday morning with a rundown of the 7 most important and interesting stories. Sign up for The 7 newsletter.
The post Ecuadorian police seize 1,000 pounds of cocaine bearing image of soccer star Erling Haaland appeared first on Washington Post.
