Ecuadorian anti-narcotics officers have seized 469 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a truck near the Colombian border, with many of the packages carrying images of Manchester City and Norway striker Erling Haaland.&nbsp;Authorities launched the operation after receiving an anonymous tip about a suspicious truck travelling along the Pan American Highway. Police searched the vehicle and found a secret compartment containing 370 parcels. Police footage showed officers removing the packages from the truck.&nbsp;Many of the green-wrapped packages carried images of Haaland. However, the football star had no connection to the shipment, and traffickers appear to have used his image on the cocaine packages.A woman carrying Colombian identification documents was arrested during the operation. Authorities have not explained why the traffickers chose Haaland's image.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-will-identify-trace-and-punish-every-terrorist-pm-modi-condemns-pahalgam-attack-warns-terror-backers-1786729807229">'India will identify, trace and punish every terrorist': PM Modi condemns Pahalgam attack, warns terror backers</a>&nbsp;Celebrity names and images are commonly used by drug trafficking organisations on shipments to identify packages or indicate their intended recipients. Peruvian authorities also found packages carrying Lionel Messi's image during a drug seizure in 2017.&nbsp;Ecuador is a key transit route for cocaine destined for Central America, the United States and Europe. Authorities estimated the local value of the seized drugs at around $842,000.&nbsp;The estimated value could rise to more than $11 million in the United States and over $19.6 million in Europe.

Ecuadorian authorities seized 469 kg of cocaine hidden in a truck near the Colombian border, with traffickers using football star Erling Haaland's image on several packages despite his having no connection to the shipment.

Ecuadorian anti-narcotics officers have seized 469 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a truck near the Colombian border, with many of the packages carrying images of Manchester City and Norway striker Erling Haaland. Authorities launched the operation after receiving an anonymous tip about a suspicious truck travelling along the Pan American Highway. Police searched the vehicle and found a secret compartment containing 370 parcels. Police footage showed officers removing the packages from the truck. Many of the green-wrapped packages carried images of Haaland. However, the football star had no connection to the shipment, and traffickers appear to have used his image on the cocaine packages. A woman carrying Colombian identification documents was arrested during the operation. Authorities have not explained why the traffickers chose Haaland's image. Also Read: 'India will identify, trace and punish every terrorist': PM Modi condemns Pahalgam attack, warns terror backers Celebrity names and images are commonly used by drug trafficking organisations on shipments to identify packages or indicate their intended recipients. Peruvian authorities also found packages carrying Lionel Messi's image during a drug seizure in 2017. Ecuador is a key transit route for cocaine destined for Central America, the United States and Europe. Authorities estimated the local value of the seized drugs at around $842,000. The estimated value could rise to more than $11 million in the United States and over $19.6 million in Europe.

Ecuadorian authorities seized 469 kg of cocaine hidden in a truck near the Colombian border, with traffickers using football star Erling Haaland's image on several packages despite his having no connection to the shipment.

Haaland’s face misused by gangsters to smuggle cocaine into Ecuador

Norway's Erling Haaland is being called out for being part of a commercial for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. Haaland played a pivotal role in FIFA sponsor and leading global alcoholic beverage firm Budweiser’s commerical for the upcoming Football World Cup which starts Jun 11. Haaland, playing his first world cup, felt 'resonated' with Budweiser's 'Let it pour' campaign but has faced backlash in his home country of Norway. Notably, any advertising related to alcoholic beverages is banned in Norway and the commerical won't be releasing in Haaland's home country. Norway are in Group I of the 48-team tournament along with France, Senegal, and Iraq.<h2>Why Haaland is facing heat for Budweiser's Let it Pour commercial?</h2>Dagbladet, Norway's leading newspaper, reported point of views of multiple organizations which work towards prevevnting usage of drug and alcohol in the country over Haaland being part of a beer commercial. Watch it below:

"Someone who is concerned about health – which I feel Haaland is – chooses to be a marketing object for an alcohol brand. It is special that it happens during a period when he represents Norway, where alcohol advertising is illegal," Inger Lise Hansen of Actis told the newspaper.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/fifa-world-cup-2026-referee-s-decision-why-players-may-get-red-card-for-leaving-pitch-in-protest-or-covering-mouths-1777438985486">FIFA WC | Players may get red card for leaving pitch in protest, covering mouths</a>"This is not about people not being allowed to drink beer when they watch a football match, but that it is our sports hero who is helping to advertise a product that leads to injuries and risks.""I wish the Norwegian FA could put a stop to it. It is tragic that Haaland does not see how negative it is for children and young people. He is a great hero for many young people in many countries. It is challenging and very sad," Hanne Cecilie Widnes of IOGT - a voluntary organzatio which works towards drug prevention.<h2>What did Haaland say about starring in beer commecial?</h2>"In my first World Cup, I’m going to give it my all on the pitch, so Budweiser’s Let It Pour campaign really resonates with me because it reflects exactly how I feel about the tournament," the talismanic striker said in a press release.While Haaland choosing to be associated with an alcoholic beverage brand isn't something new for an athlete, the organizations not being happy about it, given many youngsters look up to Haaland for fitness and health, are not wrong either.

Haaland felt 'resonated' with Budweiser's 'Let it pour' campaign but has faced backlash in his home country of Norway where advertising related to alcoholic beverages is banned.

Norway's Erling Haaland is being called out for being part of a commercial for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. Haaland played a pivotal role in FIFA sponsor and leading global alcoholic beverage firm Budweiser’s commerical for the upcoming Football World Cup which starts Jun 11. Haaland, playing his first world cup, felt 'resonated' with Budweiser's 'Let it pour' campaign but has faced backlash in his home country of Norway. Notably, any advertising related to alcoholic beverages is banned in Norway and the commerical won't be releasing in Haaland's home country. Norway are in Group I of the 48-team tournament along with France, Senegal, and Iraq. Why Haaland is facing heat for Budweiser's Let it Pour commercial? Dagbladet, Norway's leading newspaper, reported point of views of multiple organizations which work towards prevevnting usage of drug and alcohol in the country over Haaland being part of a beer commercial. Watch it below:

Haaland felt 'resonated' with Budweiser's 'Let it pour' campaign but has faced backlash in his home country of Norway where advertising related to alcoholic beverages is banned.

FIFA World Cup 2026 | Haaland features in beer commercial, draws flak back home in Norway - WATCH

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Haaland’s face misused by gangsters to smuggle cocaine into Ecuador

FIFA WC | WATCH - Haaland draws flak in Norway for featuring in beer commercial