The text details the criminal activities of several corrupt police officers in Australia, focusing on how their law enforcement experience facilitated their transitions into major criminal enterprises. John Wesley Egan and Murray Riley are highlighted as prime examples, showcasing how insider knowledge and contacts enabled large-scale smuggling and organised crime. The text also explores the evolution of police corruption, noting a shift from established, high-level corruption to a more unpredictable and dangerous environment characterised by smaller-scale operations and shifting alliances in the drug trade. The rise of the drug trade is shown to have fundamentally altered the nature of police corruption, making it less predictable and more dangerous. The case of Roger Rogerson is used to exemplify the ongoing issue of police corruption well into the 1990s.

The text details the rise and fall of organised crime in Australia, focusing on the prominent Lebanese criminal Frank Hakim and his successor Louis Bayeh. Hakim's success stemmed from his extensive network of corrupt police contacts, enabling him to operate numerous illegal gambling clubs and avoid prosecution. Bayeh inherited Hakim's criminal empire, escalating the violence and drug trade. The era witnessed a surge in gang violence before significant police reforms and stricter laws weakened organised crime syndicates, leading to arrests and deaths amongst the criminal leadership. The passage highlights the evolution of organised crime, the impact of police corruption, and the eventual crackdown on these activities.

The Nugan Hand merchant bank, operating from 1973 to 1980, is a notorious example of large-scale money laundering. Founded by Australian Frank Nugan and American Michael Hand, it facilitated illegal activities including tax fraud and theft from investors, possibly acting on behalf of American interests. The bank employed numerous former US military and intelligence personnel, and its collapse involved the disappearance of tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. Despite investigations, no one was ever convicted of crimes related to the bank, and many key figures remain shrouded in secrecy. Its connections to organised crime and drug trafficking, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, are well documented.