ALMOST 200kg of heroin and cocaine was seized from dealers by police in Scotland last year, with 25,000 ecstasy tablets also confiscated.

Latest figures show heroin was the main Class A substance seized in connection with drug crimes, with 119kg recovered by Police Scotland in 2017/18.

This is more than double the amount taken off the streets the previous year.

READ MORE: Police in blitz on drug dealers in Renfrewshire

Officers also seized 74kg of cocaine and a further 7kg of crack cocaine, according to official Scottish Government figures on both supply and possession-related crimes.

More than half of all drug possession crimes involved cannabis, with the Class B drug accounting for 54% of the recorded crimes last year.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “In the last 10 years, we have invested over £784million to tackle problem alcohol and drug use.

“Our new alcohol and drugs strategy will strengthen existing measures to support those vulnerable to drug and alcohol harm, while applying the full force of the law to dealers who cause misery that blights the lives of so many.

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“Drug enforcement remains a key part of Police Scotland activity, supported by the Scottish Government’s commitment to protecting the police resource budget in every year of this Parliament.”

Read our special report as cops crackdown on drugs in Renfrewshire