Convinced that Jason Moran was also involved in the nightclub assault, Steve Owens tricks Jason's driver Carl Williams into revealing that he did indeed ferry Jason to and from the scene. Carl Williams takes the first steps towards building his own empire. The police are determined to crack the "Carlton Crew" crime gang.

Carl Williams begins his deadly revenge on the crime-controlling Carlton Crew, and tries to increase his ever-expanding grip over the Melbourne crime world; whilst Jason Moran is in jail, his brother Mark takes control of the family business; Detective Steve Owen is determined to prove an underworld murder.

Lewis Moran hires Benji Veniaman to execute his son's, Mark Moran's killer. Subsequently, Veniamen is insulted by the Carton Crew and forms a dangerous alliance with their unpredictable rival Carl Williams; Steve and Jacqui's police instincts are tested when they try to disprove a murderer's alibi; when a criminal is shot dead multiple times, the Police realise there's a monster on the loose.

Amid growing public unrest, the police establish Task Force Purana to combat the gangland war. Loan shark Mario Condello faces his own financial crisis, which he solves with brutal efficiency. Bitter rivals Carl Williams and Jason Moran take out contracts on each other’s life. Taskforce Purana detectives are furious when police corruption derails their investigations.

Jason Moran returns from self-imposed exile, determined to destroy his rival Carl Williams; death stalks a children's football match; Taskforce Purana finally gets the resources it needs to defeat the criminals; Benji is under constant police surveillance, so Carl is forced to find a new accomplice; Carl and Roberta celebrate their daughter's christening with a lavish party.

Carl uses his high media profile to accuse Detective Steve Owen of corruption; Graham "Munster" Kinniburgh is gunned down and Mick Gatto tries to convince Carl Williams to end the gangland war; "Benji" Veniamin agrees to kill his former mentor Mick Gatto, but it's Gatto who lives to tell the tale; Carl and Roberta are rocked by the death of their closest friend.