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Drug seizures treble in Scotland Drug seizures treble in Scotland
(20 minutes later)
More than £20m of illicit drugs have been seized in Scotland over the past year - almost three times the amount taken from the streets last year.More than £20m of illicit drugs have been seized in Scotland over the past year - almost three times the amount taken from the streets last year.
The annual report from the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency also showed an increase in the number of arrests for drug offences.The annual report from the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency also showed an increase in the number of arrests for drug offences.
They included 49 people described as being among Scotland's most serious and dangerous criminals.They included 49 people described as being among Scotland's most serious and dangerous criminals.
However, the drug seizures were still lower than the agency's targets.However, the drug seizures were still lower than the agency's targets.
The agency said that £15.8m of the drugs it recovered were Class A substances such as heroin and cocaine. Most of the remainder was cannabis.The agency said that £15.8m of the drugs it recovered were Class A substances such as heroin and cocaine. Most of the remainder was cannabis.
I would like to know to more about the entire serious and organised criminal network within Scotland Gordon MeldrumSCDEAI would like to know to more about the entire serious and organised criminal network within Scotland Gordon MeldrumSCDEA
Its director general, Gordon Meldrum, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that the agency had focused much of its attention on the major players at the top of Scotland's drug dealing networks. SCDEA director general Gordon Meldrum told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that the agency had focused much of its attention on the major players at the top of Scotland's drug dealing networks.
He added: "These are people who from our intelligence, and our operations, essentially sit at the top of the criminal tree, those people who maybe orchestrate much of that criminal activity. He said: "These are people who from our intelligence, and our operations, essentially sit at the top of the criminal tree, those people who maybe orchestrate much of that criminal activity.
"Many of those people will not necessarily reside in Scotland or visit Scotland that often. A lot of those people will actually reside elsewhere in the UK, across central Europe and other in parts of the world.""Many of those people will not necessarily reside in Scotland or visit Scotland that often. A lot of those people will actually reside elsewhere in the UK, across central Europe and other in parts of the world."
Earlier this year, a study by the UK Drug Policy Commission raised serious questions about the role high profile drug seizures play in the war on drugs, and argued that their impact on the drug trade was negligible.Earlier this year, a study by the UK Drug Policy Commission raised serious questions about the role high profile drug seizures play in the war on drugs, and argued that their impact on the drug trade was negligible.
'Only respite''Only respite'
Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill has said the forthcoming Criminal Justice Bill will include tougher measures against those running criminal gangs, and will help police and the courts tackle the financial basis of criminal empires.Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill has said the forthcoming Criminal Justice Bill will include tougher measures against those running criminal gangs, and will help police and the courts tackle the financial basis of criminal empires.
And Mr Meldrum accepted the success of the agency should not be measured purely on the amount of drugs it seized.And Mr Meldrum accepted the success of the agency should not be measured purely on the amount of drugs it seized.
He added: "I would like to know to more about the entire serious and organised criminal network within Scotland and concentrate on maybe the top 10% or 20% of that network and judge impact against that as opposed to necessarily the amount of drugs we seize.He added: "I would like to know to more about the entire serious and organised criminal network within Scotland and concentrate on maybe the top 10% or 20% of that network and judge impact against that as opposed to necessarily the amount of drugs we seize.
"The one thing I would say in terms of drugs raids within this country is if you live in a street or in a close where there is consistent drug dealing night after night, day after day, very often the only respite you get is when police officers come through that door and arrest that drug dealer.""The one thing I would say in terms of drugs raids within this country is if you live in a street or in a close where there is consistent drug dealing night after night, day after day, very often the only respite you get is when police officers come through that door and arrest that drug dealer."