A DRUG baron is at the centre of Melbourne's underworld and a string of execution-style murders.
He controls a $2 billion-a-year drugs empire, but cannot be named for legal reasons.
Melbourne's underworld gangs are fighting for control of the $5 billion drug trade, sparking the spate of murders.
The central figure, dubbed the Octopus, is believed to be responsible for ordering the contract execution of Jason Moran and is connected to the 20 victims in Melbourne's five-year underworld war, which recently escalated with gangland figures being gunned down in front of their children.
Ironically, he enjoys a form of police protection by default: he is constantly tailed by an officer.
An investigation by the Sunday Herald Sun also revealed:
PRISONS are used to broker drug deals, recruit gangsters and organise contract executions.
BUSINESS fronts are used by criminals to launder drug money and legitimise their operations.
ONE of the four big banks has provided $8 million to bankroll the Octopus.
GANGSTERS use the racing industry to socialise and launder drug money.
BOXING and kick-boxing has attracted a criminal following that has led to the death of one former champion.
A LOADED gun found in Port Phillip Prison this year was intended to be used to kill Lewis Moran, father of slain gangster Jason.
The Octopus has tentacles that spread across Melbourne's underworld, prison, police, racing and business circles, according to sources.
He boasts having police on his payroll and being able to manipulate criminal investigations.
A chilling example of the Octopus' connections happened when senior Victorian police called in an undercover police officer from NSW to tail the criminal two years ago.
"None of the local cops were told that the brass was bringing in this undercover guy from Sydney," a source said.
"The undercover officer flies into Melbourne and sits off (stakes out) the Octopus's house in an unmarked car.
"Not long after, the Octopus comes out of his house, taps on the cop's car window and says 'I'm just going down the street. You can follow if you like, but I will be back soon'.
"So, the cover was blown. And this was a top secret operation."
Court documents show the Octopus asserts he has the "capacity to pay money to influence police to interfere in investigations and prosecutions".
While serving time in Port Phillip Prison, the Octopus was a leading figure among the prisoners, say jail sources.
Prison authorities believed he was so "trustworthy" they gave him special privileges that he then used to bring drugs and mobile phones into the prison.
"We are talking about a man who is an octopus, with arms sneaking into all different quarters, bribing guards, police and criminals," a source said.
Prison sources said enemies and friends were made in prisons, which were used as recruitment pools for hitmen and drug runners.
The Octopus has come a long way from running a small shop a decade ago to running a billion-dollar amphetamines and party-drug empire.
He has set up a series of business fronts to legitimise his cash reserves.
Although police have frozen his assets, sources say he has a substantial amount hidden.
Dressed in expensive, tailored suits and wearing chunky gold jewellery, the Octopus claims to be a businessman with property interests.
He was recently involved in a failed development in Melbourne's northern suburbs. He is listed as the director of several companies and lives in a modest suburban house.
As a racing identity, he is alleged to have paid off jockeys and used phoney telephone betting accounts to launder money. Criminals favour racetracks to socialise.
The day of Jason Moran's murder, an associate of the Octopus was at Moonee Valley races and placed his hand on his heart and declared, "I have lost a dear friend today".
Police sources say the Octopus also has links with Sydney gang members who travel to Melbourne race meetings to launder cash.
The Octopus formed close relationships with several career criminals while in jail, including Nic "The Russian" Radev. Gunned down in April, Radev had links to boxing and kick-boxing.
Kick-boxer Willy Thompson, who was killed in July, was an associate of the Octopus. He trained at a Chadstone gym used by the latest gangland victim, Michael Marshall.
www.heraldsun.news.com.au
He controls a $2 billion-a-year drugs empire, but cannot be named for legal reasons.
Melbourne's underworld gangs are fighting for control of the $5 billion drug trade, sparking the spate of murders.
The central figure, dubbed the Octopus, is believed to be responsible for ordering the contract execution of Jason Moran and is connected to the 20 victims in Melbourne's five-year underworld war, which recently escalated with gangland figures being gunned down in front of their children.
Ironically, he enjoys a form of police protection by default: he is constantly tailed by an officer.
An investigation by the Sunday Herald Sun also revealed:
PRISONS are used to broker drug deals, recruit gangsters and organise contract executions.
BUSINESS fronts are used by criminals to launder drug money and legitimise their operations.
ONE of the four big banks has provided $8 million to bankroll the Octopus.
GANGSTERS use the racing industry to socialise and launder drug money.
BOXING and kick-boxing has attracted a criminal following that has led to the death of one former champion.
A LOADED gun found in Port Phillip Prison this year was intended to be used to kill Lewis Moran, father of slain gangster Jason.
The Octopus has tentacles that spread across Melbourne's underworld, prison, police, racing and business circles, according to sources.
He boasts having police on his payroll and being able to manipulate criminal investigations.
A chilling example of the Octopus' connections happened when senior Victorian police called in an undercover police officer from NSW to tail the criminal two years ago.
"None of the local cops were told that the brass was bringing in this undercover guy from Sydney," a source said.
"The undercover officer flies into Melbourne and sits off (stakes out) the Octopus's house in an unmarked car.
"Not long after, the Octopus comes out of his house, taps on the cop's car window and says 'I'm just going down the street. You can follow if you like, but I will be back soon'.
"So, the cover was blown. And this was a top secret operation."
Court documents show the Octopus asserts he has the "capacity to pay money to influence police to interfere in investigations and prosecutions".
While serving time in Port Phillip Prison, the Octopus was a leading figure among the prisoners, say jail sources.
Prison authorities believed he was so "trustworthy" they gave him special privileges that he then used to bring drugs and mobile phones into the prison.
"We are talking about a man who is an octopus, with arms sneaking into all different quarters, bribing guards, police and criminals," a source said.
Prison sources said enemies and friends were made in prisons, which were used as recruitment pools for hitmen and drug runners.
The Octopus has come a long way from running a small shop a decade ago to running a billion-dollar amphetamines and party-drug empire.
He has set up a series of business fronts to legitimise his cash reserves.
Although police have frozen his assets, sources say he has a substantial amount hidden.
Dressed in expensive, tailored suits and wearing chunky gold jewellery, the Octopus claims to be a businessman with property interests.
He was recently involved in a failed development in Melbourne's northern suburbs. He is listed as the director of several companies and lives in a modest suburban house.
As a racing identity, he is alleged to have paid off jockeys and used phoney telephone betting accounts to launder money. Criminals favour racetracks to socialise.
The day of Jason Moran's murder, an associate of the Octopus was at Moonee Valley races and placed his hand on his heart and declared, "I have lost a dear friend today".
Police sources say the Octopus also has links with Sydney gang members who travel to Melbourne race meetings to launder cash.
The Octopus formed close relationships with several career criminals while in jail, including Nic "The Russian" Radev. Gunned down in April, Radev had links to boxing and kick-boxing.
Kick-boxer Willy Thompson, who was killed in July, was an associate of the Octopus. He trained at a Chadstone gym used by the latest gangland victim, Michael Marshall.
www.heraldsun.news.com.au
