British authorities said nearly $10 million worth of cocaine was hidden inside a truck carrying legitimate SKIMS clothing from the Netherlands.
LONDON, England — A British court sentenced a Polish truck driver to more than 13 years in prison after investigators discovered about 90 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a modified truck transporting SKIMS clothing into the United Kingdom, authorities said Monday.
Jakub Jan Konkel, 40, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court after a months-long investigation by the National Crime Agency and Border Force officials. Authorities said the seizure prevented millions of pounds from reaching organized crime networks and highlighted how traffickers increasingly use legitimate commercial shipments to conceal narcotics. Officials also emphasized that neither SKIMS nor the clothing exporters and importers involved in the shipment were connected to the smuggling operation.
Investigators said Konkel arrived at the Port of Harwich in Essex on Sept. 5, 2025, after boarding a ferry from Hook of Holland in the Netherlands. His truck was carrying 28 pallets of underwear and clothing from SKIMS, the shapewear company founded by Kim Kardashian. Border Force officers selected the vehicle for inspection after reviewing customs and freight information linked to the crossing. Authorities later used X-ray imaging equipment on the trailer and found evidence of hidden compartments built into the rear trailer doors. Officers then recovered 90 tightly wrapped packages containing cocaine, each weighing about 1 kilogram. The National Crime Agency estimated the street value of the drugs at roughly £7 million, or about $9.4 million. Prosecutors told the court the concealment system appeared professionally installed and was designed specifically to evade routine border inspections. Konkel initially denied knowing the drugs were hidden inside the truck, but investigators later said tracking records and interview inconsistencies weakened his account.
Authorities said vehicle tracking data became a major part of the investigation. Records showed the truck made a 16-minute stop during its route through the Netherlands before reaching the ferry terminal. Investigators said Konkel failed to explain the stop during questioning, leading officers to believe the cocaine was loaded during that period with his knowledge. The National Crime Agency said Konkel later admitted he agreed to transport the drugs in exchange for 4,500 euros. Prosecutors argued the payment amount and the complexity of the concealment operation indicated the driver knowingly participated in a larger criminal network. Paul Orchard, an operations manager with the National Crime Agency, said organized crime groups often rely on “corrupt drivers” to move Class A drugs across borders while hiding narcotics among legal cargo. Orchard said the seizure disrupted the criminal organization behind the operation and removed a large quantity of cocaine from circulation before it could enter communities across the United Kingdom. Border Force officials also praised officers involved in the inspection, calling the discovery one of several major narcotics seizures tied to freight transportation routes.
The case drew widespread attention because the shipment included products from SKIMS, a high-profile fashion brand associated with Kardashian. Investigators repeatedly stated the company had no involvement in the crime and said the clothing shipment itself was entirely legitimate. Authorities said criminal groups increasingly target commercial freight systems because international cargo traffic allows illegal products to move alongside lawful goods with limited suspicion. Drug traffickers frequently use modified trucks, shipping containers and courier routes to conceal narcotics entering Britain from mainland Europe. Law enforcement officials said ports along England’s southeastern coast remain key entry points for organized smuggling operations because of heavy freight traffic from the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Cocaine trafficking remains one of the largest sources of revenue for organized crime groups operating in Britain and across Europe. The National Crime Agency has previously warned that criminal networks continue investing in sophisticated concealment methods, including false walls, hidden trailer compartments and altered vehicle structures. Investigators said the Konkel case reflected a broader pattern in which traffickers attempt to blend illegal cargo into ordinary supply chains used by retailers and clothing distributors.
Konkel pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges after initially contesting the allegations. Chelmsford Crown Court sentenced him to 13 years and six months in prison on Monday. Court officials said the sentence reflected both the quantity of drugs involved and the level of planning required to move the shipment across international borders. British authorities did not publicly identify other suspects connected to the smuggling network, and investigators said inquiries into the broader organization remain active. Officials also have not disclosed where the cocaine was ultimately intended to be distributed inside the United Kingdom. The National Crime Agency said investigators continue examining phone records, shipping documentation and financial transactions linked to the route used in the operation. Border Force officials said additional inspections of freight vehicles connected to similar European shipping lanes are expected in the coming months as part of broader anti-smuggling enforcement efforts. Prosecutors did not indicate whether more arrests are imminent, but officials said intelligence gathered during the case could support future operations involving organized crime groups moving narcotics through commercial transport systems.
Images released by investigators after the sentencing showed stacks of seized cocaine packages alongside boxed SKIMS products recovered from the trailer. Other photographs showed the altered rear doors where the drugs had been hidden behind specially constructed panels. Jason Thorn, an assistant director with Border Force, said the drugs “destroy lives and inflict misery on our communities” while praising officers who intercepted the shipment before it reached distribution networks. Neighbors in Konkel’s hometown of Kartuzy, Poland, told local media they were surprised by the case because the driver had previously worked international transport routes without public criminal allegations. Authorities did not release further personal details about Konkel beyond his nationality and age. SKIMS did not face allegations or legal action tied to the shipment, and investigators said there was no evidence company staff or logistics partners knowingly assisted the operation. The National Crime Agency said cooperation between border officers, intelligence analysts and freight investigators played a central role in identifying the hidden compartment and tracing the route used during the smuggling attempt.
The investigation remains open as British authorities continue examining possible links between the shipment and wider European trafficking networks. Officials said additional intelligence reviews and evidence analysis are expected in the coming weeks while Konkel begins serving his prison sentence.