UKGC assists in illegal South Wales gambling bust 

South Wales’ Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) has collaborated with the UKGC, HMRC and Cardiff City Council Licensing to issue seven warrants across Cardiff on reports of an illegal gambling den in Splott.

The warrants, issued on 28 February, saw the arrest of two males on suspicion of money laundering and breaches of the gambling act. After conducting a search of the Splott premises, authorities seized gambling-related paraphernalia, including six poker tables, a spinning prize wheel, as well as poker coins and chips.

“We are committed to tackling illegal gambling activity across the UK and will continue working closely with law enforcement and partner agencies to achieve this,” a statement issued by Tarian ROCU read. 

The operation nicknamed ‘Henhouse’ was part of a wider effort to combat fraud, funded by the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) and organised in conjunction with several police forces and organised crime units across the UK. 

Detective Sergeant Emma Brown, of Tarian’s Proactive Economic Crime Team (PECT), added: “Fraud has become the most commonly recorded crime in England and Wales and is often committed in conjunction with other serious offences, such as money laundering.

“Over the course of the Henhouse intensification period, we have arrested individuals under suspicion of Fraud by False Representation and money laundering, together with executing warrants in respect of the distribution of illegal TV Firesticks.

“Our engagement teams have also delivered cybercrime and fraud awareness inputs to community groups, colleges and universities, and businesses, to help prevent people from becoming victims of fraud.”