The minimum amount of money that can be seized has been reduced

It is more than the sum raised in the whole of 2005.

Lord Advocate Colin Boyd said the money was recovered from criminals involved in activities such as human trafficking and prostitution.

He said the proceeds would go to community and outreach projects for the victims of crime.

Lord Boyd told BBC Scotland that one of the reasons for the increase was the lowering of the minimum cash-seizure threshold from �5,000 to �1,000.

It was reduced to allow the police to target local drug dealers and other small-time criminals.

The amount of money we have collected equates to something like 60,000 heroin deals Lord Advocate

"The Mr Bigs are still important people who we have to go after," he said.

"But actually making a difference on the ground, in the local community, will have a more immediate effect for citizens.

"The amount of money we have collected equates to something like 60,000 heroin deals."

The lord advocate said community and outreach projects across Scotland had benefited from the money that was seized.

"This hopefully will mean we are using the money to stifle the whole drugs trade," he said.

"If we can be more effective in making these cash seizures and combining that with the civil recovery of items like flats, yachts and Rolex watches, we will be taking money away from criminals and redirecting it."