In this podcast from the guys over at the awesome London Real they speak with renowned cannabis lover & smuggler Howard Marks AKA Mr. Nice
Many people will know Howard Marks’ story from the movie that was based on his life called Mr. Nice which is available on Netflix for those of you who haven’t seen it yet. The movie is based around his Best selling autobiography of the same name. Mr. Nice follows Howard (played by fellow Welshman & friend of Howard – Rhys Ifans) from a young bright lad living in a Welsh town to becoming the infamous drug smuggler as he is known today. The press have described Howard as ‘the most sophisticated drugs baron of all time’ and his story continues to fascinate people from all over the world as he sells out shows giving talks about his life.
Howard was connected with groups as diverse as the CIA, the IRA, MI6 and the Mafia. 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.
“Between 1975 and 1978, twenty-four loads totalling 55,000 pounds of marijuana and hashish had been successfully imported through John F. Kennedy Airport, New York. They had involved the Mafia, the Yakuza, the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, the Thai army, the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Pakistani Armed Forces, Nepalese monks, and other individuals from all walks of life. The total profit made by all concerned was $48,000,000. They’d had a good run.”
Marks concluding the JFK episode of drug trafficking in his Mr Nice autobiography; the run had ended after the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began intercepting the drugs and arresting Mafia associates in New York. – Source Wikipedia
You can buy Mr.Nice the book from Howard Marks’ official website http://howardmarks.name
Below is the Trailer for the motion Picture Mr. Nice