Scotland's leading crime-fighting agency seized drugs worth more than £20m and arrested 49 �serious and dangerous� criminals in the last year.

Scotland's leading crime-fighting agency seized drugs worth more than £20m and arrested 49 "serious and dangerous" criminals in the last year.

According to the annual report of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), some 170 people involved in serious organised crime were arrested.

In the past year the agency seized more than 220kg of Class A drugs with a street value of £15.8m - an almost three-fold increase on seizures during 2006-07.

Gordon Meldrum, in his first year as Director General of the SCDEA, said: "Our success in the last year is down to the hard work, determination and bravery of our people.

"But we know we cannot do this alone. That's why as an organisation we are committed to working with our law-enforcement partners, as well as local communities and the public and private sectors, to lead the fight against organised crime.

"Despite our very positive results in the last year, we cannot afford to be complacent."

Some £5m worth of criminal assets was also identified, an 8% rise on last year but less than the target of £8.5m.

The agency also seized more than 1500kg of cannabis.