The
book reviewer’s secrets uncovered! As a reviewer, one tends to ‘speed read’
the books for review. The gist of the book is easily found, specifics are
added in later, a few quotes to give it credence, and 500 words sent to the
editor. Easy!
However, every so often a book comes along which is so
riveting that speed reading is dropped and all the reviewer wants to do is
to find a quiet place to sit down and devour the publication. Let me tell
you, before you read further, that Mr. Nice (ISBN 978-0-749-39569-8,
Vintage UK, 1997), the saga of drug smuggler Howard Marks, is one of those
books.
Marks takes a ‘warts and all’ look at his life, from
schoolboy, to Oxford undergraduate, to Second Class Honors recipient, to
hippy carouser, to someone dabbling in the emerging drug culture, to finally
becoming one of the biggest drug importers in the UK and the US. In doing
so, he makes (and loses) millions of dollars, develops an amazing group of
associates from titled gentry of the English peerage to foul-mouthed IRA
operatives, MI6 agents, relatives of the Pakistani royal family, DEA
officers, assorted British screws and the finest criminal lawyers in the
land.
Marks, who had 43 aliases, 89 phone lines and bank
accounts all over the world, relates his unreal, though totally believable,
life. He and his agents carried millions of dollars in suitcases, sometimes
so heavy he needed assistance carrying a hold-all with USD 1.2 million in
it. He frequented the best restaurants, and thought nothing of traveling,
first class naturally, to anywhere in the world where he could perpetrate
another scam.
Naturally, he paints a glowing picture of himself (as we
all do, let’s be truthful here), and does take the moral high road, writing
that he was never involved in drugs such as heroin, but only in the transfer
of herbs! And that transfer was not a small pouch, but quantities as big as
50 tons of the stuff.
Much came out of Pakistan/Afghanistan, sometimes as part
of the personal goods and chattels of relocating Pakistani embassy staff.
Another favorite source was Thailand, where he describes the various groups
which required bribes, including those who are charged to uphold justice,
not circumvent it. Exit points from Thailand included the old Don Muang
airport, or with ships loaded at a small port in Rayong.
The methods used to cover their tracks were amazing,
including how to ensure that there was no smell which could be detected by
sniffer dogs - including having their own bent operative with official
sniffer dogs being used to test the consignment before it was presented to
HM Customs.
Howard Marks does eventually become unstuck, with DEA
agents pursuing him and finally arresting him and making it stick. Despite
their persistence, he has nothing but scorn for them, and sneers at their
rich lifestyle overseas, at their taxpayers’ expense. You will not like
their tactics either! Perjury is claimed.
It is a totally fascinating and well-written story. At B. 425, it is a
bargain read which will hold you absolutely enthralled. Get it!
