A United Parcel Service supervisor and his accomplice have been sentenced for smuggling £10 million worth of cocaine into Britain.
Zak Archbold, 30, received a 12-year prison term at Southwark Crown Court for using his position at the Stanford-le-Hope depot to bypass security checks between mid-April and late May 2020.
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His co-defendant, Steven Bullen, 51, was sentenced to 16 years and four months for managing the trafficking network from a villa in Spain.
Encrypted Network Exposed
The criminal group used the encrypted EncroChat messaging system to coordinate the shipment of nearly 300 parcels from the Netherlands to an address in Upminster, east London.
Investigators cracked the network in 2020, revealing that the gang paid £2,000 per kilogram imported, while Archbold received £750 per successful kilogram.
Judge Nathaniel Rudolf KC noted that Archbold joined the operation due to personal debt but then "enthusiastically played your part" in the logistics.
The court also imposed a serious crime prevention order on Bullen, who admitted to conspiracy to supply 790 kilograms of cocaine, 242 kilograms of MDMA, and 114 kilograms of amphetamines.
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Gemma Vincent from the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted that international cooperation secured Bullen's extradition from Spain.
"Zak Archbold abused his position while working for a reputable courier company and facilitated the importation of cocaine from Europe into the UK," Vincent said.
Prosecutors are seeking to confiscate the financial gains from both men.
Other aliases used in encrypted chats included "Veggie Kray," "Ghost," and "Cuddly Bandit." Archbold operated under the moniker "King" while being directed by the user "Ghost."
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Three other suspects—Benjamin Thake, Craig Merrin, and Jurre Faber—remain at large.
