A UPS worker from Essex allegedly operated as the “inside man” for a drugs gang that smuggled £10million worth of cocaine into Britain through parcel deliveries, Southwark Crown Court has heard.
Zak Archbold, 30, from Braintree, is accused of being the individual known by the codename “King” — who prosecutors claim facilitated the trafficking operation at a depot in Stanford-le-Hope.
The prosecution alleges Archbold exploited his position as “pre-load team leader” to ensure packages containing Class A drugs successfully passed through the facility.
Prosecutor Jenny Burgess told jurors: “It’s plain ‘King’ was involved in the conspiracy, the question is whether ‘King’ is Zak Archbold”.
In the ongoing trial, Archbold denies conspiracy to fraudulently evade the prohibition on importing a controlled Class A drug.
The smuggling scheme was uncovered following an unrelated investigation into a UPS delivery driver suspected of pocketing cash payments from customers receiving parcels.
Running for approximately five weeks between mid-April and the end of May 2020, the operation saw close to 300 parcels containing cocaine shipped from the Netherlands to the Essex depot, the court heard.
Jurors were told the drugs had an estimated wholesale value of £10million, with all packages addressed to a semi-detached property in Upminster.
Zak Archbold, 30, is suspected of being the gang’s ‘inside man’ at the depot
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PA
Members of the trafficking network communicated using aliases such as “Veggie Kray”, “Ghost” and “Cuddly Bandit”, according to the prosecution.
The gang paid roughly £2,000 for each kilogram of cocaine transported into the country through the parcel delivery service.
Encrypted Encrochat messages recovered by investigators referenced “UPS going well” and described a series of test shipments before the full operation commenced.
Ms Burgess outlined how “King’s” supervisory position allegedly made him central to the conspiracy’s success.
“He was running the show at Stanford-le-Hope in his role as the pre-load team leader,” she told the court.
The prosecutor explained Archbold was responsible for identifying specific parcels after being notified by the gang member known as “Ghost”.
His duties overseeing the unloading of both domestic and international packages meant he could direct cocaine shipments onto particular delivery vehicles, the court heard.
“He arranged for them to go on to a particular van to be driven out of the UPS facility, to be collected by others for onward distribution,” Ms Burgess added.
According to the Encrochat evidence, the UPS worker codenamed “King” received £750 for every kilogram of cocaine that successfully passed through the depot.
When company officials questioned Archbold about their original theft enquiry at the depot, he acknowledged awareness of the stolen money, but denied any involvement in or knowledge of drug trafficking allegedly connected to the same driver.
Ms Burgess informed jurors that Archbold disputes being the person referred to as “King” in the gang’s communications.
One alleged conspirator, Steven Bullen, has already entered a guilty plea in connection with the operation.
However, three other individuals accused of participation — Benjamin Thake, Craig Merrin and Jurre Faber — remain at large, the court was told.