cocaine seized – A Polish truck driver was sentenced to 13 years and six months after authorities in the U.K. found 90 packages of cocaine concealed inside a modified trailer carrying 28 pallets of SKIMS clothing. The seizure, stopped at England’s Port of Harwich after an X-ra
A routine delivery never made it past inspection.
On Sept. 5, 2025, Border Force officers stopped a truck at the Port of Harwich in Essex. It had arrived by ferry from Hook of Holland in the Netherlands and was carrying 28 pallets of SKIMS products—clothing from the brand founded by business mogul Kim Kardashian. Investigators say the load itself was legitimate, but the vehicle told a different story once it was scanned.
The driver at the center of the case—Jakub Jan Konkel. 40. from Kartuzy in northern Poland—has now been sentenced in England for smuggling cocaine concealed within that SKIMS shipment. The U.K.’s National Crime Agency says the operation was uncovered after officers detected irregularities in the trailer’s construction and found cocaine hidden in a compartment built into the rear trailer doors.
Konkel was convicted of smuggling cocaine concealed within the shipment of SKIMS underwear and clothing. At Chelmsford Crown Court, he was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison.
In a statement to the public. SKIMS said it had no role in the crime and no prior knowledge of the smuggling attempt. “SKIMS is aware of the recent news involving a shipment with our products. We want to be absolutely clear: SKIMS had no knowledge whatsoever about this criminal activity. We had no connection to the smuggling operation, the driver, or the truck.”.
Authorities say the shipment itself was legitimate and that neither the exporter nor the importer was connected to the smuggling operation.
X-ray scan reveals false compartment, 90 cocaine packages found
The breakthrough began with X-ray scanning, the National Crime Agency said. Officers detected irregularities in the trailer’s construction, which led them to search the vehicle. Investigators then uncovered a false compartment built into the rear doors, where 90 packages of cocaine were concealed.
Each package weighed about two pounds, and authorities estimated the value of the drugs at 7.2 million euros—roughly $8.4 million.
Investigators also reviewed tracking data tied to the route. They identified a 16-minute stop that the suspect did not report during questioning. Investigators believe the cocaine was loaded during that brief window. with knowledge of both Konkel and an organized crime network coordinating the shipment.
Driver admits role for 4,500 euros; plans centered on freight routes
Konkel initially denied involvement, but later pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges. Authorities say he admitted agreeing to transport the cocaine in exchange for 4,500 euros.
Law enforcement officials said the case shows how criminal groups can insert themselves into everyday commerce. In a statement. National Crime Agency operations manager Paul Orchard said. “Organised crime groups use corrupt drivers like Konkel to move Class A drugs often hidden on entirely legitimate loads such as this.”.
Orchard added that the seizure prevented cocaine from reaching communities and disrupted profits for the network behind the operation.
The order of events—legitimate SKIMS goods. a specifically modified trailer. and a short stop investigators say wasn’t disclosed—left little doubt about how the scheme worked. Once the truck was stopped and scanned at Harwich. the deception inside the rear doors turned a normal freight shipment into a major cocaine seizure.
cocaine seizure SKIMS Port of Harwich Border Force National Crime Agency Jakub Jan Konkel Chelmsford Crown Court drug smuggling organized crime freight inspection