Raggruppamento Operativo Speciale

The Raggruppamento Operativo Speciale or Special Operations Group of the Carabinieri (usually simply called ROS) was founded on 3 December 1990 to coordinate investigative activities against organized crime.

It was created from the remains of the Special Anti-terrorism Unit created in the 1970s by General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa to combat terrorism in Italy. It had centers in Genua, Naples, Milan, Padua, Rome and Turin. Having defeated the Red Brigades in the 1980s, the Special Anti-terrorism Unit was also employed to investigate organized crime.

The ROS today is the main investigative arm of the "Carabinieri" dealing with organized crime and terrorism and reports directly to the "Carabinieri" General Command.

Organization

The ROS command center coordinates the activities of 26 regional anti-crime sections.

The headquarters is organized as follows:

*1. three investigative service centers:
** Organized crime
** Drug trafficking and kidnapping
** Analysis
*2. an anti-subversion unit
*3. a technical support unit.

The staff of the ROS is extremely specialized and only for a quarter are police officers. The remainder are officers and non-commissioned officers of the "Carabinieri" .

In order to encourage synergy with the territorial units, the staff of the ROS often attends professional refresher courses and conferences with the "Polizia di Stato" and the "Guardia di Finanza".

Among the investigative methods used by the ROS, one of most effective and dangerous for the investigator is the infiltration of gangs (undercover operations) used in investigations into narcotics, kidnapping, money laundering, and the smuggling of arms, ammunition and explosives.

External links

* [http://www.carabinieri.it/Internet/Arma/Oggi/Reparti/Organizzazione+Mobile+e+Speciale/ROS/ROS.htm Official site]
* [http://www.ecn.org/filiarmonici/rosnudo.html Isole nella rete] "Il ROS è nudo", (The ROS in the News) Information about the service