MORE than 180 specialist Gwent Police officers carried out raids to tackle serious and organised crime this morning.

The raids were part of Operation Jigsaw and sought to dismantle the most serious form of drugs supply in Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent.

Warrant entry (Video: Gwent Police) 

Police have confirmed that 12 people have been arrested following 15 early morning raids today.

The arrests took place in the Oakdale, Pontllanfraith, Rhymney, Hengoed, Trelewis, Nelson, Bargoed, Pontlottyn and Newbridge areas of Caerphilly and the Abertillery area of Blaenau Gwent.

The teams included Gwent Police's Serious Organised Crime Team, specialist method of entry and search trained officers, along with officers from the dogs' section and Criminal Investigation Teams. Local officers were also used to help carry out this morning’s activity.

What is thought to be Class A drugs, heroin and crack cocaine, has also been seized and will be sent away for forensic examination and identification.
 
Twelve people - 10 men and two women - have now been arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs. 
They are all currently in police custody and investigations are ongoing.

Pictures from Gwent Police show a broken door and officers preparing to execute the raids.

South Wales Argus:

A door was broken in one of the raids. Picture - Gwent Police

It is believed that the officers began the raids from 5am.

South Wales Argus:

Officers preparing for the raids. Picture - Gwent Police

Detective Inspector for Organised Crime, Andrew Tuck, who led on the warrants today, said: “This morning’s raids are the culmination of over six months of meticulous work across Gwent Police to disrupt the supply of the most harmful drugs in our society. 
 
“These warrants build on our previously successful operations including Op Divide, Op Finch and Op Avocet to name but a few. They have led to convictions of some of the most serious criminals in Gwent.

“I’d like to thank our communities once again for their support which is vital for our work to be successful. We understand that nobody knows their streets better than the residents that live there.
 
“If you see something that either seems out of place or if something just does not add up, then you can contact us and know it will be dealt with seriously. What may seems like a small detail could be the final piece to a much bigger puzzle.”