{"id":8315,"date":"2026-07-09T17:38:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:38:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/ups-inside-man-jailed-for-masterminding-10m-cocaine-smuggling-operation\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T17:38:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:38:43","slug":"ups-inside-man-jailed-for-masterminding-10m-cocaine-smuggling-operation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/ups-inside-man-jailed-for-masterminding-10m-cocaine-smuggling-operation\/","title":{"rendered":"UPS &#8216;inside man&#8217; jailed for masterminding \u00a310m cocaine smuggling operation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_3d5bec\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Zak Archbold, aka &#8216;King&#8217; used his position as a UPS warehosue supervisor to help smuggle class A drugs worth millions into the UK<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37411540\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411540.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_Cocaine-smuggling-gang-court-case.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411540.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/1_Cocaine-smuggling-gang-court-case.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411540.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/1_Cocaine-smuggling-gang-court-case.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411540.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_Cocaine-smuggling-gang-court-case.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Zak Archbold, aka 'King'\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Zak Archbold, aka &#8216;King&#8217;<cite aria-label=\"Image: National Crime Agency\/PA Wire\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: National Crime Agency\/PA Wire)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A UPS worker nicknamed &#8216;King&#8217; who served as the inside man for a \u00a310 million cocaine smuggling ring has been jailed for 12 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Zak Archbold, 30, used his role as a supervisor at the UPS depot in Stanford-le-Hope in Essex to help ensure that dozens of parcels containing class A drugs were able to enter the UK after being shipped from the Netherlands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Southwark Crown Court heard how Archbold used his position of authority to ensure the shipments came through customs undetected and went on to the right truck for collection by another member of the gang.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">On Thursday, Judge Nathaniel Rudolf KC sentenced Archbold to 12 years in prison after he was convicted at trial of fraudulently evading the prohibition on the importation of class A drugs, with evidence showing the smuggling operation involved 290 kilos of cocaine.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37411563\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37411563\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:0.9206008583690987\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411563.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Image.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411563.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Image.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411563.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Image.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37411563.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Image.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Co-defendant Steven Bullen, 51, also helped direct operations \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Co-defendant Steven Bullen, 51, also helped direct operations <cite aria-label=\"Image: NCA\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: NCA)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Co-defendant Steven Bullen, 51, admitted playing his part in conspiracies to supply a total of 790 kilos of cocaine as well as separate plots to supply 242 kilos of MDMA and 114 kilos of amphetamine, directing operations from his villa in Spain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He was sentenced on Thursday to 16 years and four months in prison.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Judge Rudolf said Archbold got involved in the drugs ring when he fell into debt, but then \u201centhusiastically played your part\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He said Bullen had a leading role in the hierarchy of the drugs gang, where one of the designated drivers was known as the \u201cB52 bomber\u201d, secret compartments were used in cars for the transportation of illicit parcels, and hundreds of kilos of drugs worth tens of millions were sold.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The judge added: \u201cTaking part in the way you both did in high-level criminality involving this amount of drugs is a pathway of risk and reward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe reward is financial, and the risk is prosecution and conviction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cYou both chose to walk that pathway and must face the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gemma Vincent, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said Bullen was responsible for a \u201cstaggering volume of drugs\u201d being smuggled into the UK, and it worked with the National Crime Agency and international law enforcement to secure his extradition to face justice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cZak Archbold abused his position while working for a reputable courier company and facilitated the importation of cocaine from Europe into the UK,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cTheir convictions would not have been possible without the combined efforts of prosecutors in the UK, Spain and France, Spanish law enforcement teams, and the NCA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cGoing forward, we will seek to confiscate their ill-gotten gains and we hope these sentences serve as a deterrent to other would-be criminals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cDrugs have a devastating and costly impact on society, and we will continue to work across borders to prosecute those who seek to flood our streets for their own gain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The illegal drugs supply operations were cracked when law enforcement agencies gained access in 2020 to the secure EncroChat messaging system, which was used by criminal gangs around the <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">world<\/a> to direct their operations..<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The drug smuggling gang used aliases including \u201cVeggie Kray\u201d, \u201cGhost\u201d and \u201cCuddly Bandit\u201d on EncroChat, when they believed their messages were secret, and Archbold was referred to as \u201cKing\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Archbold denied being \u201cKing\u201d at trial, but was caught out by messages to a driver warning him that a sideline scheme stealing money from UPS customers was threatening to shine an unwelcome light on the drug smuggling operation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Judge Rudolf accepted Archbold had been \u201cnaive\u201d when he agreed to join the drugs importation scheme.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The judge imposed a serious crime prevention order on Bullen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Both defendants were convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine, while Bullen also admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply MDMA, and conspiracy to produce amphetamine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/ups-inside-man-jailed-cocaine-37411553\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zak Archbold, aka &#8216;King&#8217; used his position as a UPS warehosue supervisor to help smuggle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1_Cocaine-smuggling-gang-court-case.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}