Banged Up Abroad

The programme examines the rise of Howard Marks, a university student who grew into one of the globe’s largest cannabis dealers. It also details how his vast empire eventually began to unravel, leading to the network’s final dramatic, international collapse.

USA/Hunting Mr Nice is a television programme presented as a single episode. Classified within the documentary‑style genre, it adopts a true‑crime framework that follows an investigative narrative. The show is designed to trace the actions of a prominent individual involved in illegal drug activity, offering viewers a step‑by‑step look at the subject’s criminal career. The episode centres on Howard Marks, who began his adult life as a university student before turning his attention to the cannabis trade. It charts his shift from academic study to participation in the illicit market, detailing how he progressed from a modest involvement to becoming a key figure in the global marijuana business, and the methods he employed to expand his operations. Marks' activities eventually grew into a sizeable network described as a vast empire, stretching across multiple territories and influencing various segments of the cannabis market. The programme outlines the breadth of this operation, illustrating how his enterprise moved beyond a small‑scale venture to command a significant share of the worldwide trafficking scene, making it one of the largest of its kind. Despite its scale, the empire began to disintegrate, a process the episode follows in detail. It looks at the factors that contributed to the breakdown, showing how the once‑dominant network unraveled. By tracing these developments, the investigation presents the aftermath for Marks after the collapse of his operation.