Underbelly NZ

Marty Johnstone's small time criminal career gets a big boost when he makes contact with a supplier of Thai cannabis sticks. With his new business associates, Terry Smith and Big Ari, he quickly builds a drug empire. Detectives Ben Charlton and Caroline Derwent help with Marty's arrest, but his lawyer manages to swing bail.

Marty tries his luck in the tough London criminal scene, setting up the smuggling of 75,000 LSD tabs. The Syndicate becomes more organised as Ben and Caroline are assigned to the Special Investigations unit. Marty sets about acquiring his own blue-water capable boat as the police establish an undercover operation.

Andy and Marty arrange their first big blue-water shipment out of Thailand, but the enterprise is not without its difficulties. The Special Investigations unit has major setbacks as they try and build a case against the Syndicate, despite a lack of support from above. Josh Easby, a reporter at the Auckland Star, realises he may be onto something big.

Marty is living the high life, but his addictions to cocaine and heroin mean that mistakes are being made. Terry Clark begins plotting to cut Marty out of the New Zealand drug market. Ben and Carole are frustrated by the powers-that-be, and the drug war gets personal when shots are fired at Carole's house. Marty's plan to smuggle heroin by boat goes horribly wrong.

Marty desperately tries to clean himself up in order to get back on top. The Auckland Star investigation continues and it puts pressure on both the police and Marty. Carole's domestic problems continue. Terry has Pommy Harry killed, as the tensions between himself and Marty reach boiling point. As Marty loses more money in bad deals, Terry begins pressuring Andy to kill his old friend.

Andy reluctantly starts the preparations to kill Marty, who is desperately trying to set up one more deal. Carole and Max are reunited. Andy lures Marty to Scotland and kills him, bringing the police case to an abrupt end. Even though Marty never faced the force of the law, he proves to be a catalyst for drastic changes in both crime and policing in New Zealand.