A truck driver in England has been sentenced to over 13 years in prison after authorities discovered nearly $10 million worth of cocaine concealed in a shipment of Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS clothing brand.
Investigators confirmed that the SKIMS shipment was legitimate, with no allegations against the exporter or importer. SKIMS and Kardashian representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Jakub Jan Konkel, 40, received a 13-year and six-month prison sentence following an investigation by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, as stated by the agency.
Investigation Details
Border Force officers stopped Konkel on September 5 at the Port of Harwich in Essex after his arrival from the Hook of Holland, Netherlands.
The truck was carrying 28 pallets of SKIMS clothing. Officers discovered a concealed compartment in the rear trailer doors, specifically modified to hide the drugs.
Inside this compartment were 90 packages of cocaine, each weighing one kilogram, with an estimated street value of $9.6 million, according to authorities.
Modus Operandi of Smugglers
Authorities noted that traffickers often hide narcotics within legitimate commercial shipments to avoid detection.
Organized crime groups use corrupt drivers like Konkel to move Class A drugs, often hidden on entirely legitimate loads such as this,
said NCA Operations Manager Paul Orchard.
Investigators revealed that Konkel’s vehicle records indicated an unexplained 16-minute stop before reaching the port, where they allege the drugs were loaded, known only to Konkel and the smuggling group.
Legal Proceedings
Although Konkel initially denied knowledge of the cocaine, he admitted to drug smuggling, accepting €4,500 (around $5,200) to transport the drugs, as per the NCA report.
Orchard mentioned that the operation disrupted the criminal group that attempted the smuggling.
Impact of Drug Seizure
Border Force Assistant Director Jason Thorn emphasized the significance of the seizure, stating it prevented millions in profits for criminal networks.
These drugs destroy lives and cause misery within communities, he added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.