THE Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) have underlined its commitment to investigate and dismantle Organised Crime Groups.

Tarian is a team of Police officers and Police staff seconded from Gwent Police, South Wales Police, and Dyfed-Powys Police, and part funded by constituent forces, Welsh Government and Home Office.

The UK Government has highlighted 13 capability areas which need to be implemented by April 2016 – and TARIAN is confident that they are well-placed to meet that deadline.

With departments ranging from surveillance operatives to cyber-crime investigators and asset recovery specialists, the team are dedicated to dismantling Organised Crime Groups across the whole of Southern Wales and counter the constantly changing threats.

The Unit boasts a wide range of specialist capabilities and since it’s launch in 2003 have achieved significant results – with priorities including, drugs, modern slavery, cyber crime and child sexual exploitation, which has been highlighted by the Home Office as an emerging national threat.

TARIAN works in collaboration with a variety of partner agencies such as National Crime Agency and Welsh Government – in addition to the Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN).

This is a multi-agency group that brings together intelligence and investigation staff from public sector enforcement agencies for example the DVLA, to lawfully share information, intelligence and conduct joint investigations.

The work of the Regional Asset Recovery Teams (RART) and Asset Confiscation Enforcement (ACE) Teams have further provided the unit additional successes. The ACE Team is close to surpassing the £1m milestone in only 12 months of operating .

Operations have included:

Frank- an investigation into a crime gang, which was dismantled and almost 40kg of Heroin taken off the streets.

Hallet- this dismantled a drugs-gang operating in the Ystrad Rhondda area. An extensive two-day search involved specially-trained staff and resulted in the discovery of a substantial amount of cash and a significant amount of controlled drugs.