Howard Marks
Dennis Howard Marks (13 August 1945 – 10 April 2016) was a Welsh drug smuggler turned author. He was known as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases. At his peak he smuggled as much as 30 tons, and was connected with groups as diverse as the CIA, the IRA, MI6, and the Mafia.
| Howard Marks | |
|---|---|
.PNG) Marks in Germany in 2000 | |
| Born | Dennis Howard Marks 13 August 1945 Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, Wales |
| Died | 10 April 2016 (aged 70) Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
| Cause | Colon cancer |
| Alias(es) | Mr Nice |
| Conviction(s) | Racketeering (drug trafficking) |
| Penalty | Imprisoned for 7 years |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Spouse | Ilze Kadegis (1967–??) Judy Lane (1980–2005) |
| Children | Amber, Francesca, Patrick, Myfanwy |
He was eventually convicted by the American Drug Enforcement Administration and handed a 25-year sentence to be served at Terre Haute; he was released in April 1995 after serving seven years. Though he had up to 43 different aliases, he became known as "Mr Nice" after he bought a passport from convicted murderer Donald Nice. After his release from prison, he published a best-selling autobiography, Mr Nice, and campaigned publicly for changes in drugs legislation.
On 25 January 2015, it was announced that Marks had inoperable colorectal cancer.[1] He died of the disease on 10 April 2016, at the age of 70.[2]