20 May,2026 03:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Kim Kardashian (Picture via Instagram)
Reality star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian has found her shapewear brand SKIMS at the centre of an unexpected controversy after a drug trafficking case in the United Kingdom drew global attention. The company recently issued a public statement distancing itself from an USD 8.4 million cocaine smuggling operation in which a truck carrying SKIMS merchandise was allegedly used to transport illegal drugs.
According to reports from the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), a Polish truck driver named Jakub Jan Konkel was arrested after border officials discovered approximately 90 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a specially modified compartment of a truck transporting legitimate SKIMS clothing shipments. Authorities reportedly intercepted the vehicle at the Port of Harwich in Essex after it arrived via ferry from the Netherlands.
Investigators revealed that the truck was carrying 28 pallets of authentic SKIMS products when officers uncovered the concealed narcotics. The seized cocaine was estimated to have a street value of nearly USD 8.4 million. Officials later confirmed that the driver had admitted to participating in the smuggling operation in exchange for payment and was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison.
Following widespread media coverage linking the incident to Kim Kardashian's fashion label, SKIMS released an official statement strongly denying any involvement in the criminal activity. The company clarified that neither the brand nor its suppliers, exporters, or importers had any knowledge of the smuggling attempt.
In its statement, the brand said it wanted to be "absolutely clear" that it had "no knowledge whatsoever" about the operation and no connection to the driver, the truck, or the illegal substances discovered by authorities. The clarification quickly went viral online as social media users reacted with shock over the unusual link between a global fashion brand and a major drug bust.
The National Crime Agency also stressed that the shipment of clothing itself was entirely legitimate and that there was no evidence suggesting any involvement from SKIMS or its associated businesses. Officials praised border officers for intercepting the drugs before they could reach criminal networks across the UK.
Despite the controversy, Kim Kardashian and SKIMS have not been accused of wrongdoing in the case. However, the incident has sparked massive online discussion due to the brand's global popularity and Kardashian's celebrity status.
