A truck driver has been jailed for smuggling more than $9.3 million worth of cocaine hidden on a vehicle carrying a consignment of Kim Kardashian’s Skims underwear and clothing.
Polish national Jakub Jan Konkel, 40, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court today, May 18, to 13 years and six months in prison, following a National Crime Agency investigation.
On Sept. 5 last year, Konkel was stopped by Border Force officers at the Port of Harwich in Essex as he arrived on a ferry from the Hook of Holland, the Netherlands.
His heavy goods vehicle, which was carrying 28 pallets of Skims clothing, was X-rayed. The load was entirely legitimate and neither the exporter nor importer were connected to the smuggled load, however the truck had been specially adapted and a hide constructed in the skin of the rear trailer doors.
(National Crime Agency via SWNS)
By Talker
The truck had been specially adapted and a hide constructed in the skin of the rear trailer doors.
Inside were 90 packages each containing 1 kilogram of cocaine, with a street value of around $9.3 million.
Konkel’s tachograph showed a 16-minute stop that he failed to declare to the NCA in interview, which is when it is thought the drugs were loaded onto the vehicle with only his and the crime group’s knowledge.
Konkel, of Kartuzy in northern Poland, initially denied knowing anything about the Class A drugs, but eventually pleaded guilty to drug smuggling, confessing he agreed to smuggle the drugs for a payment of $4,800.
Jakub Jan Konkel was arrested for transporting drugs. (National Crime Agency via SWNS)
By Talker
NCA operations manager Paul Orchard said: “Organized crime groups use corrupt drivers like Konkel to move Class A drugs often hidden on entirely legitimate loads such as this.
“The detection and investigation have removed a significant amount of cocaine whose profits are lost to the crime group behind the smuggling attempt, and with Konkel they’ve lost an important enabler.
“The NCA works with partners at home and abroad to protect the public from the threat of Class A drugs, which are at the epicenter of huge amounts of crime and suffering in U.K. communities.”
Border Force Assistant Director Jason Thorn said: “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.
“We continue to work round the clock to relentlessly pursue criminality, protect our borders and keep these dangerous drugs off our streets.”
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