A lorry driver who attempted to smuggle £7.2 million worth of cocaine into the UK inside a shipment of Skims clothing has been sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison. According to authorities, 40-year-old Jakub Konkel was caught at Harwich International Port in Essex after border officers became suspicious of his driving behavior. Konkel had transported 90 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a legitimate cargo of Skims underwear and clothing products traveling from the Netherlands into the United Kingdom.
The drugs were discovered on September 4 after officers x-rayed the truck and uncovered specially designed compartments hidden within the rear trailer doors.
Investigators said the concealment method was highly sophisticated, with 90 individual packages of cocaine built directly into the structure of the trailer.
Officials also recovered a mobile phone allegedly linked to the drug trafficking operation. The device had reportedly been configured to automatically wipe its data after 18 hours.
At Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Richard Wilkin said Konkel played a major role in a large-scale organized crime operation.
“Your role was not peripheral or limited,” the judge told him. “It was a significant role in this large-scale, commercial operation.”
Court proceedings revealed Konkel traveled to Belgium to collect the drugs before driving through the Netherlands and boarding a ferry to the UK.
He was reportedly promised 4,500 euros for completing the transport.
Konkel admitted to smuggling Class A drugs and reportedly broke down in tears while being sentenced.
Authorities confirmed he will be deported after serving his prison sentence.
Following the ruling, Paul Orchard from the National Crime Agency said organized crime groups often rely on “corrupt drivers” to move drugs hidden among legitimate commercial shipments.
“The detection and investigation have removed a significant amount of cocaine whose profits are lost to the crime group behind the smuggling attempt,” Orchard said.
The court also ordered the destruction of the drugs, Konkel’s truck, and the mobile phone involved in the case.
Representatives for Kim Kardashian were reportedly contacted for comment regarding the shipment tied to her fashion brand.