Police officer Gunn Törngren traces smuggled cigarettes to petty crook Jakov Jakovič; seeing a fortune, Jakov urges his friend Goran to join him; Goran refuses to betray their gang leader, Drago, as war looms.

Jakov and Goran's smuggling business booms, angering Stockholm's crime boss, Valter Sokol; to avoid war, Jakov aids Gunn in arresting Valter, but she fails; with Goran's life at risk, Jakov is led to execution, only a last-minute deal can save him.

With Jakov's tip, Gunn arrests Valter, but a silenced witness frees him; suspecting a rat, Valter orders Goran to find and kill the informant; Jakov plots to flee, but Gunn's mistake makes Goran suspect him.

Goran's death lets Drago challenge Jakov's rule; Jakov secures loyalty with money, while Goran's son seeks answers; Gunn refuses to risk her family but later names Jakov as her informant; smuggling surges with Boris' help at the Yugoslav embassy.

Gunn finds drugs in Jakov's shipment, aiming to arrest him; Drago used his lorries for smuggling, Jakov breaks with Drago and Boris; he turns to Albanian cigarette smuggling and funding Kosovo's fight.

Haunted by Goran's death, Jakov plans to leave his assets to Helena and Stefan; Drago spreads a rumor that Jakov killed Goran; Jakov offers Drago the smuggling business if he retracts it; Stefan, torn by doubt, turns to Gunn and confronts Jakov.