A man known as ‘King’ within UPS has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for aiding a £10 million cocaine smuggling operation. Zak Archbold, a 30-year-old supervisor at the UPS depot in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, used his position to ensure the successful entry of numerous parcels containing class A drugs from the Netherlands into the UK.
Southwark Crown Court revealed that Archbold exploited his authority to evade customs detection and direct the drug-laden shipments to the appropriate truck for collection by another group member. The court convicted him of facilitating the importation of 290 kilos of cocaine, leading to the lengthy prison term.
His accomplice, Steven Bullen, aged 51, was also sentenced to 16 years and four months for his involvement in conspiracies to supply a total of 790 kilos of cocaine, as well as plots to distribute 242 kilos of MDMA and 114 kilos of amphetamine. Bullen operated from his villa in Spain, overseeing the criminal activities.
Judge Nathaniel Rudolf KC emphasized that Archbold and Bullen willingly engaged in high-level criminal activities for financial gain, risking prosecution and conviction. Prosecutors highlighted Bullen’s significant role in orchestrating the drug trafficking network and commended the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies across countries in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The drug syndicate’s communication on the EncroChat platform, where they used aliases like “Veggie Kray” and “Ghost,” was pivotal in exposing their illicit activities. Archbold’s moniker ‘King’ was unveiled through incriminating messages related to a UPS customer theft scheme, further confirming his involvement in the drug smuggling ring.
Despite Archbold’s initial denial of being ‘King,’ Judge Rudolf recognized his naivety in joining the illegal operation. Serious crime prevention measures were imposed on Bullen, and both defendants were found guilty of multiple drug-related charges, underscoring the severe consequences of their actions in fueling drug-related harm in society.
