In a case that blurs the line between fashion and felony, a Polish national named Jakub Jan Konkel has been sentenced to 13 and a half years in a British prison for smuggling cocaine hidden in a shipment of Skims - the shapewear and lingerie brand founded by Kim Kardashian in 2019. The National Crime Agency (NCA) reported that on September 5, 2025, border officers at the port of Harwich stopped Konkel as he arrived by ferry from the Netherlands. Inside his truck, among seemingly legitimate boxes of Skims garments, they discovered a custom-built compartment in the rear door containing 90 packages of cocaine valued at over £7 million. Konkel admitted he had agreed to transport the drugs for €4,500. "Organized crime groups exploit corrupt drivers like Konkel to move Class A drugs, often hidden inside entirely legal cargo like this," said NCA operations manager Paul Orchard. Skims, which debuted as a direct-to-consumer brand offering inclusive sizing and a modern take on foundation garments, has become a cultural phenomenon - but it now also serves as a cautionary tale. While the brand itself is innocent, the incident recalls a long history of lingerie being used for concealment, from wartime smuggling of silk stockings to modern-day contraband. Last September, another traveler was caught at an airport with Skims underwear concealing illicit items. Lingerie, it seems, can hide more than it reveals.
Originally reported by Lenta.RU