Frank Lucas, the drug lord who inspired the film American Gangster, has died

Lucas was a notorious drug lord who imported heroin from south-east Asia.

Frank Lucas (88), the former New York drug kingpin whose life was the subject of the 2007 movie American Gangster, has died. His nephew Aldwan Lassiter said Lucas died on Thursday in New Jersey, and had been in declining health. He was a notorious drug lord in the 60s and 70s in New York and was known for his lavish lifestyle. In 1975 he had his assets and property seized by police. At one New Jersey address, authorities reportedly found more than $584,000 in cash. He was sentenced to decades in prison but was released five years later after he became an informant for police. American Gangster was released in 2007 and starred Denzel Washington as Lucas and Russell Crowe as Richard Roberts, the prosecutor who helped convict Lucas before becoming his lawyer and friend. Lucas was present on set and reportedly gave Washington advice on how to play the character. When asked at the time of the release of the film about the drug users who had died after being supplied with his heroin, he said: "I did some terrible things. I'm awfully sorry that I did them. I really am."