Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS Clothing Shipment Was Used to Hide Over $9 Million Worth of Cocaine, Authorities Say

A Polish truck driver has been sentenced to over 13 years in prison for his role in smuggling a significant quantity of cocaine concealed within a shipment of Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS clothing brand. Jakub Jan Konkel, aged 40, received a sentence of 13 years and six months at Chelmsford Crown Court after an extensive investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

On September 5, 2025, Konkel was stopped by Border Force officers at the Port of Harwich in Essex after arriving aboard a ferry from the Hook of Holland. At the time of his apprehension, his truck was carrying 28 shipments of legitimate SKIMS clothing. However, during inspections, officials discovered that the vehicle had been modified to contain a concealed compartment hidden within the trailer doors.

Inside this hidden space, authorities located an astonishing 90 packages, each containing approximately 1 kilogram of cocaine. The estimated street value of the drugs was approximately $9.6 million (£7.2 million). Notably, neither the exporter nor the importer associated with the SKIMS shipment was found to have any connection to the smuggling operation. Both SKIMS and Kim Kardashian have not been implicated in any wrongdoing regarding the case.

Following initial denials of his involvement, Konkel later pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges. Investigators uncovered that records from the truck’s tracking system indicated a brief 16-minute stop during the journey, which Konkel reportedly omitted to mention during police interviews. Authorities believe this stop allowed the organised crime group to load the drugs onto his vehicle, a claim that Konkel was aware of at the time.

A senior official from the NCA highlighted the rampant use of corrupt drivers by organised crime networks to transport Class A drugs, often hidden among legitimate cargo. Paul Orchard, the NCA’s operations manager, stated, “The detection and investigation have removed a significant amount of cocaine, with its profits lost to the crime group behind the smuggling attempt. With Konkel’s conviction, they’ve lost an important enabler.”

The NCA reiterated its commitment to collaborating with domestic and international partners to combat the threat posed by Class A drugs, which he noted are at the core of many criminal activities affecting communities across the UK.

Jason Thorn, an assistant director with Border Force, also commented on the operation, emphasising the impact of drug trafficking on society. He remarked, “These drugs destroy lives and inflict misery on our communities. This significant interception is testament to the brilliant work of Border Force, depriving criminal networks of millions in profit.” Thorn affirmed that efforts to maintain security at the borders and prevent such dangerous substances from reaching the streets would continue unabated.

Images from the case, which included photographs of the seized drugs, the SKIMS products, and Konkel himself, were released by the NCA as part of their public awareness campaign.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking, as well as the ongoing issue of organised crime in the UK. The successful interception of this shipment highlights the effectiveness of cross-agency collaboration in tackling such serious criminal activities.

As more information emerges about the methods employed by drug traffickers, agencies are likely to strengthen their efforts to ensure that similar operations are thwarted in the future, protecting communities from the devastating effects of illegal narcotics.