When wannabe gangster Harvey François Jones disappeared on the evening of 15 July 1983, no one except his dear old mum seemed to be in the least bit surprised.

After all, the last person Jones was allegedly in the company of was his best friend, Neddy Smith, who, at the time, was the undisputed king of Sydney’s Street underworld. And the fact that Jones was reputed to be carrying a large parcel of cash only fuelled the rumour that Neddy had seen his old drinking mate off and helped himself to the loot.

Neddy Smith was ‘the man’. Standing 6 foot six and all rippling prison-gym muscle and with a long, long list of crimes including rape to his credit, Neddy had bashed and murdered his way to the very top of Sydney’s criminal meilleu. His wealth, extravagant lifestyle and flash cars came from his Thailand heroin importing business which at one stage was said to supply 20% of Australia’s Dragon Pearl pure heroin.

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