With the Smuggler's help, Spider-Man tries to expose the Maggia, a crime ring whose main currency is street narcotics.

The Smuggler had become an important witness against the Maggia. After mistakenly interfering with Lieutenant Kris Keating's chase to save a kidnapped Smuggler, Spider-Man decided to make amends by rescuing the important witness himself.

From a matchbox he picked up, the clue led Spider-Man to a floating restaurant in the form of a sampan. Disguising as one of the samurai warriors, he managed to give The Smuggler enough time to break free of his bounds and teamed up with him. The temporal hero was shot on the back, however, and fell into the Hudson River. But with his ability to breath twice as long as a normal man, Spider-Man successfully pulled him out of danger.

Just as Detective Lou Snider and his men were bringing The Smuggler into their hands, the owners of the floating restaurant accused Spider-Man of breaking into their restaurant and disturbing their patrons. However, Spider-Man quickly revealed their involvement in drugs, giving Snider a reason to search the boat for Maggia involvement.