Crime gang driven by drugs and greed

A DEADLY western suburbs crime gang fuelled by drugs and greed has been named as the force behind Melbourne's gangland war.

Murdered criminal Paul Kallipolitis has been revealed as a one-time leader of the gang whose members and associates have been linked to at least 10 murders and up to six non-fatal shootings.

The gang included Andrew Veniamin and Dino Dibra, friends of accused murderer Carl Williams, and Mark Mallia, an associate of Nikolai Radev.

All grew up within a few kilometres of each other in Sunshine.

They were killed within the space of four years as friend turned on friend.