Four Corners: July 6

In part two of Four Corners investigation into the mafia in Australia, Nick McKenzie reveals one senior Mafioso’s Labor connection.

It’s one of the most ambitious organised crime investigations in Australian history. An epic surveillance operation which uncovered 4.4 tonnes of ecstasy, worth half a billion dollars – the world’s largest ecstasy bust.

But the drugs themselves were just the beginning.

The drug syndicate inadvertently led the police right to the heart of the Calabrian mafia in Australia.

In the second part of this Four Corners/Fairfax Media investigation we take you inside the police operation, with access to the investigators, their surveillance footage and telephone intercepts.

But as the program reveals, there’s no doubt the mafia is back in business.

“These groups are very difficult to defeat. They regroup, they rebound, they reorganise.” Police Investigator

The mafia has a unique resource to draw on: its network of families.

“The links are tight and they are based on the one thing… blood ties.” Mafia Expert

“You will have the baton passed essentially from father to son, from father to nephew, and they will continue to use those very strong family links take over essentially the family business.” Police Investigator

Reporter Nick McKenzie reveals the next crop of crime figures running operations in Australia and their continuing attempts to infiltrate political parties on both sides of the divide.

“Organised crime figures will try and cultivate people of all walks of life, but particularly people with influence.” Police Investigator.

Monday 6th of July at 8.30pm on ABC.