A SOPHISTICATED underground drug lair uncovered by police may be linked to dead gangland kingpin Carl Williams.
Senior detectives from Taskforce Driver - investigating the circumstances behind the underworld killer's death - say it is one of the most sophisticated drug-manufacturing operations discovered in Australia.
And an investigation by the Sunday Herald Sun can reveal the prime suspect behind the underground amphetamine and marijuana factory is a man known as "The Greek".
He bought the remote 16ha farm in Trida, West Gippsland, in February 2005 where four shipping containers have been found buried.
The drug den was reached through a false floor in a chicken shed and linked by a network of tunnels. One of the containers had scorch marks, indicating a fire had broken out there at some point.
Locals have described how The Greek was involved in a shootout at the property soon after moving in.
Last night, police confirmed they had arrested and questioned a suspect about the covert operation, confirming Taskforce Driver detectives spearheaded the investigation.
"Detectives from Taskforce Driver acted on an intelligence-led tip-off from a source," detective Sen-Sgt Nick Vaughan said.
"It is one of the most sophisticated drug manufacturing operations we have ever come across."
Police believed the drug operation had not been used in two years.
The Greek sold the property in October 2008. The current owners are not suspects.
The Sunday Herald Sun traced The Greek to an address in Bentleigh East, where he confirmed being questioned by detectives.
However, the man, who owns an automotive business, refused to speak about how he was linked to Carl Williams or Taskforce Driver.
A police source said the drug operation was a "significant discovery", but mystery surrounds how it is linked to Taskforce Driver.
Williams was bashed to death in Barwon Prison in April last year.
The four shipping containers, 6m x 3m, were buried 1.5m underground and spread across 150 sq m.
Tunnels linked all four containers, which also had extractor fans and ventilation tunnels.
Further tunnels were built linking the operation to a woodshed and a garden shed. It also had electricity and a water supply.
Chemicals believed to make amphetamines were found as well as hydroponic equipment.
"It was an elaborate and covert set-up, underground in a remote area, on a dead-end unmade road in the middle of nowhere," Sen-Sgt Vaughan said.
"The entrance was through a false floor. Some of the tunnels were just three foot in diameter, just enough to crawl through. Extractor fans pumped air through the containers and there was an electricity and water supply.
"The tunnels were well constructed with metal support, beams and insulation. Walls were painted white to reflect the light."
Police are appealing to local tradesmen who may have unwittingly worked on the project - but Trida is at least 30km from the nearest small town of Mirboo North and workmen could have come from farther afield.
Baw Baw Shire Council said only six households were registered ratepayers in Trida. The farm, called Krackatini, is 3km along unmade Allmans Rd, a dead end.
A neighbour who knew The Greek said that shortly after moving in, he was involved in a shooting incident - which police have confirmed.
"The previous owner had left an excavator on the property. He came to collect it with friends one day and (The Greek) pulled out a gun and shot at his vehicle, smashing the windows," Jeanette Swetnam said.
"They managed to flee and called police but they were badly shaken up.
"I only talked to him a handful of times - once was after the shooting to apologise for the disturbance.
"He was always polite but kept himself to himself. We all do around here. We try to keep out of everyone else's business."
Ms Swetnam's son, Glen, said he remembered the containers being delivered to the property.
"It was a few years ago now but I remember them coming down the lane on the back of trucks," he said. "After the shootout, you don't ask questions of someone like that."
Builder Greg Beyer said no one looks twice if they see an excavator or someone digging a big hole.
"Lots of people have excavators on their property. There's lots of building always going on and no one bats an eyelid. And people digging holes is commonplace.
"If anyone did see something, you would just think they are building a dam or something.
"But I am intrigued if anyone did help dig the hole because I do the majority of the work in the area."
Eight officers raided the property at 7.30am on February 2. The couple who now own the property, in their mid-40s, were separated and questioned at a nearby police station, unaware of what was beneath their property.
When officers revealed what they were looking for, the man told them to start the search under his vegetable patch because "it sunk a few weeks ago".
They own horses, sheep and goats and run their own roofing business nearby.
The couple are now on holiday "recovering from the ordeal".
"(The woman) is still having nightmares about it," neighbour Margot O'Brien said. "It was a dawn raid and they had no idea what was going on. They are both badly shaken up and have gone on holiday to recover from the ordeal."
Resident Julie Ettery said: "It's not just the police raid but the thought of having a drug laboratory a few metres from your back doorstep all that time.
"Heaven knows who could have been hanging around the place - it shatters your quiet rural outlook.
"It's what might have been that's the worry, who has been watching their home, who tipped the police off, who knew about it - all these questions are running through their minds," Ms Ettery said.
