A truck driver in London will spend over a decade in prison after border authorities caught him using a shipment of Kim Kardashian’s Skims shapewear to hide millions of dollars in narcotics.
On Monday, the National Crime Agency confirmed that 40-year-old Jakub Jan Konkel was sentenced to 13 years and six months following his arrest at the Port of Harwich in Essex, England. Konkel had arrived on a ferry from the Netherlands, operating a truck loaded with 28 pallets of legitimate Skims merchandise.
The illicit operation unraveled when Border Force officers ran the vehicle through an X-ray scanner. The scan revealed a modified compartment built directly into the rear doors of the truck. Inside the hidden space, officers uncovered 90 wrapped brick packages containing 198 pounds of cocaine.
Valued at an estimated $8.4 million on the street, the contraband was entirely separate from the legal cargo. Authorities emphasized that the Skims brand, along with the exporters and retailers involved in the clothing shipment, were completely unaware of the smuggling plot and had no involvement in the crime.
Though Konkel initially maintained his innocence and denied knowing the narcotics were in the vehicle, he eventually admitted to the scheme. He confessed that he agreed to transport the hidden drugs for a promised payout of 4,500 Euros, which amounts to about $5,276.
Following the sentencing, Border Force Assistant Director Jason Thorn emphasized the impact of the seizure, stating that these drugs destroy lives and inflict misery on our communities. Thorn credited the bust to the exceptional efforts of the border teams, noting that the intervention successfully stripped criminal organizations of millions in potential revenue. He stated that law enforcement remains dedicated to securing borders and keeping illicit substances off the streets.
