Ecuador: agents intercept cocaine shipment bearing Haaland images
Ecuadorian agents seized 469 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in a truck near the border with Colombia. The packages bore photographs of Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland.
Ecuador: agents intercept cocaine shipment bearing Haaland images
On Wednesday, Ecuadorian agents intercepted a significant cocaine shipment in an area near the border with Colombia. Photographs of Norwegian striker Erling Haaland were affixed to the wrapping, according to confirmation from the AP news agency in a report published by Delfi Sport.
The drug was hidden in a secret compartment of a truck. In total, 370 packages weighing 469 kilogrammes of narcotics were recovered. Authorities indicated that the intended destination was Esmeraldas province, located in the north-west of the country, between the Pacific Ocean and neighbouring Colombia. The driver was taken into police custody on the day of the operation, and law enforcement shared photographs of the seizure on social media.
Officials did not clarify why photographs of the footballer were chosen to identify the merchandise. AP explains that using figures from sport or entertainment is part of what is known as narcobranding. Through these labels, criminal groups distinguish the origin of the batches and their final recipient.
The street value of the shipment on the local market was assessed at approximately 842,000 dollars. However, had the substance reached the United States, its value would have exceeded 11 million dollars. In Europe, the figure could have surpassed 17 million euros.
Source: Delfi Sport
Source: Google News EE — Crime (et)