Drug dealers are being targeted under the new laws

The Proceeds of Crime Act aims to target the ill-gotten gains of the "untouchables" of the crime world.

Since the law came into force in April, �1,548,461 has been recovered north of the border.

Half the assets seized in Scotland stay in the country to be spent on initiatives which aim to repair communities damaged by drug dealers.

The new legislation allows courts to seize assets they believe have been funded by crime, even if there is no conviction.

The new criminal confiscation unit (CCU) has gained 37 confiscation orders worth �1,203,482 in the last eight months.

In the same period last year there were 17 orders amounting to �338,000.

The largest confiscation order was served on Michael Webster, who was jailed for 30 months in June on drugs charges.

More than �197,000 was seized from him the following month.

These increased seizures show the police and courts are using the new powers to hit them where it hurts Jack McConnell First Minister

A further �344,979 in assets has been forfeited under the new civil recovery procedure.

An another �3.2m of assets are currently frozen across Scotland by the CCU through 61 restraint orders.

The UK Treasury agreed last year that half of the cash seized north of the border could be retained by the Scottish Executive.

A spokesperson said this money would be allocated to improve communities which had been undermined by serious and organised crime.

First Minister Jack McConnell said: "For too long, Scotland's communities have been sickened by the sight of drug dealers flaunting their ill-gotten gains.

"Through their criminal networks, they have been able to carry on profiting from other people's misery.

'Excellent start'

"That is why we took action to put in place tougher laws to strip the assets from the 'untouchables', ending their lavish lifestyles and bankrupting their criminal enterprises.

"These increased seizures show the police and courts are using the new powers to hit them where it hurts."

Lord Advocate Colin Boyd QC said prosecutors had made an "excellent" start in using the new powers.

Nicola Sturgeon said all the cash should stay in Scotland

"Criminals are getting the message that crime will not pay," he said.

However, Scottish National Party justice spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon said all the money seized in Scotland should stay in Scotland.

"Scottish communities bear the burden of crime committed in Scotland, so it's only right that they get the benefit of any money recovered from the criminals that cause so much misery," she said.

"We also have to ask why only �1.5m has been seized when this act was meant to target the profits of the major players in the drug industry."