A UPS employee known as ‘King’ has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his involvement in a £10 million cocaine smuggling operation. Zak Archbold, 30, exploited his position as a supervisor at the UPS depot in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, to facilitate the entry of numerous parcels containing class A drugs into the UK from the Netherlands.
During the trial at Southwark Crown Court, it was revealed that Archbold abused his authority to ensure the drug shipments bypassed customs checks and were directed to the appropriate truck for pickup by another member of the smuggling ring. Judge Nathaniel Rudolf KC handed down the 12-year sentence after Archbold was found guilty of illicitly importing 290 kilos of cocaine.
Co-defendant Steven Bullen, 51, who operated from his villa in Spain, received a 16-year and four-month prison term after admitting his involvement in supplying a total of 790 kilos of cocaine, as well as additional drug trafficking schemes.
Judge Rudolf highlighted Archbold’s financial motives for joining the criminal enterprise, emphasizing that both defendants knowingly engaged in high-level drug trafficking with significant risks and rewards. The prosecution, led by Gemma Vincent from the Crown Prosecution Service, stressed the collaborative effort with law enforcement agencies across borders to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The illicit drug operations were uncovered in 2020 through the interception of communications on the EncroChat messaging platform, used by criminal organizations worldwide. The gang members, using aliases like “Veggie Kray” and “Ghost,” communicated covertly, with Archbold being identified as “King.”
Despite denying his alias during the trial, Archbold was exposed through incriminating messages linking him to the smuggling activities. Judge Rudolf acknowledged Archbold’s naivety in joining the criminal scheme and imposed a serious crime prevention order on Bullen.
Both defendants were convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine, with Bullen also pleading guilty to additional drug-related charges. The sentencing aims to deter others from engaging in drug trafficking, which continues to have a detrimental impact on society.
