He was arrested again on December 14, 2007, and charged with possessing cocaine, amphetamines and an unlicensed pistol.

After his arrest Benvenuto was interviewed by Purana detectives over the murder of notorious underworld gunman Victor Peirce, who was shot dead sitting in his car in Bay Street, Port Melbourne, on May 1, 2002.

It is believed Benvenuto was formally cautioned and gave a "no comment" record of interview on legal advice.

Police have established that Peirce was waiting to meet Benvenuto when he was killed.

They believe the killer was a Melbourne hitman now dead.

Frank and Vince Benvenuto are the sons of Liborio Benvenuto, who was the undisputed Godfather of Melbourne for more than 20 years before his death from natural causes on June 10, 1988.

His sons were major identities in Melbourne's wholesale fruit and vegetable market. In the later 1990s, Frank Benvenuto hired Peirce as protection after a series of disputes at the market and they became close friends.

Detectives have been told that after Benvenuto's murder a well-known underworld figure rang Peirce to tell him of the death. They remain intrigued as to how the figure knew of the hit before the information was made public.

Following the shooting, the hitman asked Peirce for a meeting. According to Peirce's wife, Wendy, the hitman wanted an assurance that Pierce would not seek revenge for his friend's murder. Mrs Peirce said (the hitman) "wanted a meeting with Victor and they met in a Port Melbourne park. He wanted to know if Victor was going to back up for Frank. He was his best mate. Victor took a gun and (the hitman) would have been armed."

Mrs Peirce said both gunmen agreed there would be no more violence. But police say those who organised the hit on Frank Benvenuto remained concerned that Peirce might decide to strike back and ordered his death.

On June 22, Purana detectives arrested Faruk "Frank" Orman and charged him with Peirce's murder. They allege he was the driver of the hit team.

Detectives are now investigating claims that Vince Benvenuto was asked to assist on behalf of a senior gangland identity.

The head of the Purana taskforce, Detective Inspector Gavan Ryan, said: "We are progressing on a number of gangland murders. We will keep going no matter how long it takes."

On September 27, 2007, Vince Benvenuto was denied bail after appearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Benvenuto, of Black Rock, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Paul Smith during a bail application, charged with trafficking large commercial amounts of cocaine, methylamphetamines, ecstasy and possession of an unregistered firearm.

After his arrest police searches located a firearm, a taser gun, cash, a small amount of drugs and computer equipment, which was seized.

As a result of a Purana Taskforce investigation into the 2002 death of Melbourne gangland hitman and armed robber Victor Peirce, police began gathering intelligence on Benvenuto in 2006, by telephone intercepts, listening devices and camera surveillance.

Purana Taskforce Senior Detective Dale Fitzgerald said as a result of the investigations Benvenuto was found to be trafficking large amounts of cocaine, methylamphetamines and ecstasy.

"We established over nine months Mr Benvenuto was trafficking three to four ounces (of cocaine) per week," Detective Fitzgerald said.

Detective Fitzgerald told the court this is evident from Benvenuto's own admissions.

"We've (also) established he's trafficked over nine months, five or six ounces of methylamphetamine."

Detective Fitzgerald said Benvenuto had also trafficked up to 30,000 pills of ecstasy over the same period.

"His trafficking was on a daily basis.

"Everything he talks about is quantity and quality."

Detective Fitzgerald said there were more than 20,000 telephone calls intercepted during the investigation and some calls recorded Benvenuto boasting about his relationships with other Melbourne gangland identities, including Nik Radev, who was murdered in Coburg in 2003.

The court heard Benvenuto, a licensed finance broker, conducted alleged drug deals from his Caulfield office.

Senior Detective Fitzgerald told the court Benvenuto's father was involved with the market gardeners.

When Andrew McKenna, for Benvenuto, asked Detective Fitzgerald if Benvenuto came to police attention as result of Purana activities, he replied: "He's a suspect in relation to the murder of Victor Pierce."

Benvenuto's sister (who asked not to be named) told the court her mother's house, valued at $1 million, could be used as surety for her brothers bail.

Mr Smith did not grant bail to Benvenuto and remanded him in custody to reappear in December 2007.

Mr Gatto, who is heavily involved in the state's building industry, is being scrutinised by Victoria Police's Purana taskforce over the killing of Peirce in 2002.

The Age also revealed that authorities were separately investigating Mr Gatto's links to former and serving police, including a senior detective.

An associate of Mr Gatto, Faruk Orman, was charged in June in relation to the Peirce murder, and two other associates of Mr Gatto have recently been questioned about the killing. Mr Gatto, 52, is allegedly connected to the murder in the brief of evidence served on Orman, although The Age believes there is insufficient evidence to warrant his charging.

Police are investigating Mr Gatto's dealings with two brothers, from a family well known in the fruit and vegetable markets, in the 48 hours before Peirce's murder as part of allegations that he had prior knowledge of the murder.

Peirce, a notorious crime figure acquitted of the murders of constables Damian Eyre and Steven Tynan in Walsh Street, South Yarra, in 1988, had arranged to meet one of the brothers about the time of his murder.

Mr Gatto's lawyer, Brian Rolfe, who is also acting for Orman, told The Age that "there is not the slightest possibility of Mr Gatto being implicated (in Peirce's murder) in any way".

Mr Gatto has previously denied he is involved in any wrongdoing and has claimed police and the media refuse to leave him alone to pursue his extensive business interests.

On March 20, 2008, Vince Benvenuto was taken from a prison cell to be grilled by detectives over allegations he defrauded a bank of $250,000.

Benvenuto is charged with obtaining property by deception.

It's alleged he used false documents to obtain a $250,000 overdraft from a bank and false documents to obtain leases for two BMW cars.

A member of the anti-gangland Purana force, Detective Senior Constable Stephen Reidy, successfully sought permission from the Melbourne Magistrates Court to interview Benvenuto for eight hours.

Det Sen Const Reidy told magistrate Ross Betts that Benvenuto had set up a finance company called MGL Finance in his son's name and, using the bank overdraft, had over a 12-month period withdrawn $224,400 without his son's knowledge.

Det Sen Const Reidy requested he be able to interview Benvenuto in relation to charges of obtaining property by deception.

Benvenuto's counsel said his client was not opposed to being interviewed but did not want to go to the St Kilda Road police complex.

Det Sen Const Reidy said there was "voluminous evidence'' at St Kilda Road including that garnered from telephone tapes, visual tapes and car tracking devices.

Mr Betts said he was satisfied that it was in the interest of justice that Benvenuto be interviewed at St Kilda Road but advised him that he did not have to answer any questions.

On March 27, 2008, police were granted the right to question Vince Benvenuto over allegations he was involved in a conspiracy to kidnap.

A magistrate granted a police application to interview him for up to six hours.

Magistrate Elizabeth Lambden told Mr Benvenuto he was not required to say or do anything in the interview.

Defence lawyer Bernie Balmer told the court Mr Benvenuto consented to the application.

Mr Balmer said his client, who has health problems and is under 22-hour lockdown in Port Phillip Prison, intended to give a no comment record of interview.