Jakub Jan Konkel, a 40-year-old lorry driver, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for smuggling cocaine worth £7 million in a shipment of Skims clothing linked to Kim Kardashian’s brand. Konkel was transporting 28 pallets of legitimate clothing from the Netherlands when he was apprehended at an Essex port in September. Border officials discovered 90 packages of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment near the back doors of the truck, with a street value of approximately £7.2 million.
The National Crime Agency revealed that Konkel made a 16-minute unreported stop where the drugs were likely loaded onto the vehicle, as indicated by his tachograph data. The legitimate clothing shipment was unaware of the illicit cargo, and both the exporter and importer were not involved. Konkel, hailing from Kartuzy in northern Poland, admitted to transporting the drugs for a payment of 4,500 euros (£3,900).
Paul Orchard, an operations manager at the NCA, highlighted how organized crime groups exploit drivers like Konkel to transport Class A drugs concealed within lawful shipments. The interception of the drugs removed a significant amount of cocaine from circulation, depriving the criminal group of potential profits. Border Force Assistant Director, Jason Thorn, emphasized the destructive impact of drugs on communities and commended the interception for disrupting criminal networks and safeguarding communities.
Skims, co-founded by Kim Kardashian, Jens Grede, and Emma Grede in June 2019, promotes body positivity and inclusivity with its clothing line. The brand’s success led to its recognition on TIME’s List of 100 Most Influential Companies in March 2022, with subsequent plans to expand into menswear in October 2023.