Scotland is at the forefront of the battle against organised drug crime, according to the director of the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

Vince Harvey was speaking at the launch in Paisley of Scotland's new Drug Enforcement Agency.

The Scottish Executive says for the first time, Scotland will have an intelligence-centred organisation dedicated to targeting drug crime.

Mr Harvey said: "It's an exciting initiative and I would say Scotland is ahead of other parts of the UK.

"It has a significant new resource dedicated to drugs, which are the most popular substance used by organised crime groups.

"This is a major step forward in combatting this."

Funding for the agency has been controversial, with £13m taken from the Scottish Prison Service's budget to meet the cost.

Its aims are to:

• Reduce the availability of drugs in Scotland
  
  
• Target and smash organised drug crime
  
  
• Arrest drug suppliers and traffickers
  
  
• Assist Scottish police forces in the detection of drug-related crime
  
  
• Maximise the use of intelligence on drugs and other organised crime
  
  
• Enhance and co-ordinate police involvement in wider drug policies.

Announcing the structure of the agency in Paisley, Mr MacKay said: "The creation of the SDEA means drug enforcement will be co-ordinated in an unprecedented fashion, with dedicated resources and dedicated officers.

"We will be funding the agency to the tune of £5m a year over the next two years.

New officers recruited

"The SDEA will promote a structured approach to drug enforcement through a single intelligence base and through close co-operation with the National Criminal Intelligence Service and Customs and Excise."

A director will be appointed by the end of February, followed by the recruitment of another 200 officers. There will also be a drugs co-ordinator to ensure the work of the agency and police forces fits in with drugs policies.

"The SDEA gives us the opportunity to beat the big-time criminals. It will save lives, cut crime and give communities the opportunity to be free from the menace of drugs," Mr MacKay added.

'Guarded' welcome

The Tories' home affairs spokesman Phil Gallie gave a "guarded" welcome to the agency, but insisted: "The executive must give a categorical guarantee that the DEA will not lead to yet further reductions in frontline police officers."

He warned that the adoption of the European Convention of Human Rights might prevent tough action against drug dealers on the ground that it would be a breach of their civil liberties.

Last year 58 kilos of heroin were seized across Scotland. Five years ago the haul amounted to just three kilos.

The Scottish body has been modelled on Ireland's agency.

Last year the Criminal Assets Bureau in Dublin took action to seize criminal assets worth almost £3m. The Bureau also targeted tax evasion by Irish drug bosses.