A truck driver in England received a prison sentence exceeding 13 years after authorities discovered nearly $10 million worth of cocaine concealed within a shipment of SKIMS clothing, a brand owned by Kim Kardashian.
The SKIMS shipment was legitimate, and neither the exporter nor importer faced any accusations. Representatives for SKIMS and Kardashian did not provide responses to Fox News Digital’s inquiry.
Jakub Jan Konkel, aged 40, faced sentencing on Monday, receiving 13 years and six months in prison. The punishment followed an investigation by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
On September 5, Border Force officers intercepted Konkel at the Port of Harwich in Essex. He had arrived on a ferry from the Hook of Holland in the Netherlands.
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Konkel pleaded guilty to smuggling cocaine inside a shipment of SKIMS clothing. Authorities confirmed the truck carried 28 pallets of SKIMS clothing. During inspection, officers discovered a concealed compartment within the rear trailer doors. The vehicle had undergone special modifications to hide drugs inside the trailer.
Inside the hidden compartment were 90 kilogram-sized packages of cocaine with an estimated street value of about $9.6 million, according to authorities.
Authorities clarified that trafficking groups often use legitimate commercial shipments to covertly transport narcotics and evade detection.
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According to NCA Operations Manager Paul Orchard, organized crime groups exploit drivers like Konkel to move Class A drugs, concealing them in legitimate loads.
Investigators also noted Konkel’s vehicle records indicated an inexplicable 16-minute stop before arriving at the port, allegedly used to load the drugs onto the truck, involving only Konkel and the smuggling group.
Konkel initially denied knowledge of the cocaine, but later admitted guilt in drug smuggling. He agreed to transport the drugs in return for €4,500, approximately $5,200, as per the NCA.
Orchard stated investigators seized significant amounts of cocaine, disrupting the cartel behind the smuggling attempt. SKIMS clothing appeared in evidence bags as authorities identified nearly $10 million of cocaine hidden in a truck shipment.
Border Force Assistant Director Jason Thorn mentioned the seizure deprived criminal networks of substantial profits. “These drugs destroy lives and inflict misery on our communities,” Thorn emphasized.
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