Full Breakdown
Polish Driver Sentenced for Smuggling £7 million of Cocaine in Skims Clothing Shipment
5/19/2026, 5:44:22 AM
Core Event: Conviction and Sentence
On 18 May 2026, Chelmsford Crown Court sentenced Polish lorry driver Jakub Jan Konkel, 40, to 13 years and six months for transporting 90 kg of cocaine hidden in a legitimate shipment of Skims underwear and clothing. Border Force officers stopped the vehicle at Harwich International Port, Essex, after it arrived on a ferry from the Hook of Holland.
Background: Criminal Networks Exploit Legitimate Freight
The NCA said organised crime groups exploit drivers to hide Class A drugs in lawful cargo. In this case, the rear trailer doors were modified to conceal 90 one-kilogram packages of cocaine.
Key Figures & Agencies
- Jakub Jan Konkel – driver from Kartuzy, Poland, who pleaded guilty.
- Paul Orchard – NCA operations manager.
- Jason Thorn – Border Force assistant director.
- Judge Richard Wilkin – presiding judge.
- Skims – Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand.
Data & Statistics
The haul comprised 90 kg of cocaine in 90 one-kilogram packages, valued between £7 million and $9.4 million across sources. Konkel was paid €4,500. The cargo consisted of 28 pallets of Skims clothing, and a 16-minute tachograph stop was recorded when the drugs were loaded.
Official Statements & Responses
The NCA said the seizure removed a significant amount of cocaine and deprived the criminal network of a key enabler. Border Force called the operation a significant blow to organised crime, noting the drugs’ societal harm. Judge Wilkin described Konkel’s role as significant rather than peripheral.
Criticism & Opposition
Law-enforcement warned that high-purity cocaine fuels community violence and addiction, framing the smuggling as a direct threat to public safety and urging stricter freight monitoring.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources value the cocaine between £7 million and $9.4 million. One source dates the seizure to September 2025, while others cite September without a year, leaving the exact timeline unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Your role was not peripheral or limited. It was a significant role in this large-scale, commercial operation,” — Judge Richard Wilkin
- “Organised crime groups use corrupt drivers like Konkel to move Class A drugs often hidden on entirely legitimate loads such as this.” — Paul Orchard, NCA operations manager
- “ Border Force Assistant Director, Jason Thorn said: “These drugs destroy lives and inflict misery on our communities.” — Jason Thorn, Border Force Assistant Director
- “Konkel said he had agreed to move the drugs for a payment of €4,500 (US$5,243), according to the agency.” — Jakub Jan Konkel
What’s Next
Konkel’s truck, phone and the cocaine have been ordered destroyed; he will be deported after his sentence. The NCA says it will keep working with international partners to monitor freight-based drug trafficking.
