The Massachusetts State Police is desperate to crack down on Irish-American organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by Frank Costello. While Billy quickly gains Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan, a protege of Costello who has infiltrated the state police as an informant for the syndicate, is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by their double lives, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations they have penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there is a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy, and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save themselves.