A major drug trafficking operation has landed a Polish truck driver behind bars after authorities discovered millions of dollars worth of cocaine hidden inside a legitimate shipment connected to Kim Kardashian’s fashion brand, SKIMS.
According to the UK’s National Crime Agency, 40-year-old Jakub Jan Konkel was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison after attempting to smuggle nearly 200 pounds of cocaine into England through the Port of Harwich in Essex.
Investigators revealed that Konkel was transporting 28 pallets of SKIMS clothing from the Netherlands when Border Force officers stopped and inspected his truck in September last year.
After carrying out an X-ray examination on the vehicle, officials reportedly uncovered a hidden compartment inside the truck’s rear doors containing 90 tightly wrapped packages of cocaine.
Authorities estimated the seized drugs had a street value of approximately $8.4 million.
The National Crime Agency clarified that the SKIMS shipment itself was completely legitimate and that neither the fashion company nor the exporter and importer involved in the clothing delivery had any connection to the smuggling operation.
Konkel initially denied having any knowledge of the drugs before later admitting he agreed to transport the cocaine in exchange for €4,500 (around $5,276).
Speaking after the sentencing, Border Force Assistant Director Jason Thorn praised officers involved in the operation.
“These drugs destroy lives and inflict misery on our communities,” Thorn said.
He added that the seizure prevented criminal networks from making millions in profit while reaffirming the agency’s commitment to combating illegal drug trafficking and protecting UK borders.
The case has since drawn widespread attention online due to the unexpected connection to Kim Kardashian’s globally recognized shapewear brand, SKIMS, despite the company having no involvement in the criminal activity.
