The infamous former drug smuggler Howard Marks has died of cancer at the age of 70.

Also known as Mr Nice, Marks became notorious as an international cannabis smuggler following a series of high-profile court cases, before launching a career as a best-selling author.

He revealed his battle with inoperable bowel cancer last year, stating he had 'no regrets' following the diagnosis. He died surrounded by family members at his Bridgend home in the early hours of Sunday.

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The renowned former drug-smuggler Howard Marks, pictured, has died of bowel cancer at the age of 70

Photos revealing the different disguises and personas utilised by Marks during his days smuggling cannabis

His Mr Nice alias, one of just 43 that he utilised, was born after he bought a passport from convicted murderer Donald Nice and it stuck in the public's imagination

The Welshmen's days as a drug smuggler began in the 1970s, soon after he had graduated from Oxford University with a degree in physics.

Marks was arrested in Spain in 1988 as part of a drugs bust led by the US Drug Enforcement Agency and extradited to Florida.

He was eventually handed a 25-year sentence in the US in 1990 following a conviction of smuggling cannabis, later retelling his story in an autobiography entitled Mr Nice.

In it, he spoke about serving his sentence at the Terre Haute federal penitentiary, which he called 'America's toughest', before he release from prison on parole for good behaviour in 1995, having served seven years.

At the peak of his smuggling days Marks would allegedly take on consignments of drugs as large as 30 tons.

His Mr Nice alias, one of just 43 that he utilised, was born after he bought a passport from convicted murderer Donald Nice and it stuck in the public's imagination.

A family statement after his death read: 'He fought the illness with grace and humour.

'His death was 21 years to the day since his release from prison in the United States, his second bout of imprisonment for cannabis smuggling since his miraculous acquittal at the Old Bailey in 1980.

'One of his last acts was to set up the Mr Nice foundation, to ensure the causes dear to him continue to receive his support.'

Talking about his illness last year, Marks spoke of how he had enjoyed an 'incredible life', which included him spending time with 'musicians, DJs and other lovers of dope'.

'I've come to terms with it in my own way – which for me was about learning how to cry,' he said.

Marks was arrested in Spain in 1988, pictured, left as part of a drugs bust led by the US Drug Enforcement Agency and extradited to Florida. After his time behind bars he became a successful author, right

THE LIFE OF MR NICE: FROM DRUG SMUGGLER TO BESTSELLING AUTHOR In 1996, Marks' memoir Mr Nice sold more than a million copies Howards Marks was born in 1945 in Kenfig Hill, south Wales, the son of a merchant navy sailor and a teacher. He attended grammar school in his country og Birth and secured good enough grades to get an interview at Balliol College, Oxford, where he would read physics from 1964 to 1967. It was during his student days in Oxford that Marks was first introduced to drugs and, most significantly, cannabis. His fascination and love of the drug would eventually led to him missing many of his classes as he skipped lessons for long sessions getting stoned, but he managed to get his catch up before the end of the year to secure passes in his finals. It was after leaving university that Marks graduated from taking the drug to dealing and selling it, starting out in London, Brighton and Oxford. He soon made contacts in Europe, who were impressed with his ability to evade authorities and used him to transfer money over borders given his lack of a criminal record. His involvement in smuggling cannabis soon escalated and eventually took him around the world, forcing him to rely on multiple identities and a well-connected network of friends to evade justice. By 1972, he was making £50,000 with each shipment, some of which would weigh up to 30 tons. By the end of the year he was approached by MI6 agent and university friend Hamilton McMillan, who recruited Marks to work for the intelligence agency thanks to his connections in Lebanon, Pakistan and Afghanistan, for his ability to seduce women and for his IRA contacts. In 1980, Marks was arrested by Customs Officers in the UK for his part in importing £15 million of cannabis. Upon his arrest he was in possession of numerous pieces of incriminating evidence, including £30,000 in cash. Marks famously pleaded not guilty, claiming that secret agencies had set up an identity as a drug smuggler for him in order to close the net on other criminals. Marks with his wife Judy, who met in 1970 before splitting in 2003 The jury found him innocent of drug smuggling, but guilty of using false passports and Marks was sentenced to two years imprisonment. However he would only serve another fives in prison after his sentence, having served the majority of it while in custody before and during his trial. During the 1980s, he would utilise as many as 43 aliases, 89 phone lines and 25 companies trading worldwide as fronts for money laundering. Marks was once again arrested in Spain in 1988 as part of a drugs bust led by the US Drug Enforcement Agency and extradited to Florida. He was eventually handed a 25-year sentence in the US in 1990 following a conviction of smuggling cannabis, later retelling his story in an autobiography entitled Mr Nice. In it, he spoke about serving his sentence at the Terre Haute federal penitentiary, which he called 'America's toughest', before he release from prison on parole for good behaviour in 1995, having served seven years. After prison he released a further three books and regularly toured a one-man show in which he recounted stories about drug smuggling and his time behind bars, eventually securing a legacy as a cultural icon. As well as the film version of Mr Nice, he had cameo roles in the 1999 movie Human Traffic and appeared on TV shows including Never Mind the Buzzcocks. The Welshman met his future wife Judy at a party in Brighton in 1970 when she was a 16-year-old schoolgirl and he was 10 years older. She would eventually become Marks' accomplice and joined him on the run from authorities for nearly a decade, before deciding to set up a permanent home for her three children Amber, Golly and Patrick. In 1980, the pair married but would go on to split in 2003 following accusations that Marks was in the midst of a two-year affair. They divorced two years later. At the time of his death he was with long-term partner Caroline Brown. Advertisement

The father-of-four stood for election to Parliament in 1997 on a single-issue ticket of reforming cannabis laws

'It's impossible to regret any part of my life when I feel happy and I am happy now, so I don't have any regrets and have not had any for a very long time.'

Marks, who was born in south Wales, was diagnosed with the disease in the autumn of 2014.

The cancer then spread to his liver and lungs. He completed eight cycles of chemotherapy and initially responded well to the treatment, but later his condition worsened.

Mr Marks was being cared for by his long-term partner Caroline Brown and battled in his last years to promote the legalisation of marijuana.

His strength of view would lead the father-of-four to stand for election to Parliament in 1997 on a single-issue ticket of reforming cannabis laws.

In 1996, his memoir Mr Nice sold more than a million copies and was later made into a film starring his friend and fellow Welshman Rhys Ifans.

Howard Marks, who became a best-selling author following his release from prison, reads to children in the bandstand at Camp Bestival in 2014