Howard Marks
Dennis Howard Marks was a Welsh drug smuggler turned author, who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through highprofile court cases. At his peak he was supposedly smuggling consignments of the drug as large astons, and 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 25year 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 bestselling autobiography, Mr Nice, and campaigned publicly for changes in drugs legislation.
Marks was born in Kenfig Hill, near Bridgend, Wales, the son of Dennis Marks, a captain in the Merchant Navy, and Edna, a teacher. Brought up as a Baptist, he later turned to Buddhism, though he did not become a devout follower. He attended the Garw Grammar school in Pontycymer. He was a fluent Welsh speaker.
Source: Wikipedia