The conference will hear about the illegal labs where drugs are made

The Scottish Drugs Conference heard about the illegal labs where drugs are made and their psychological effects.

Police officials and intelligence chiefs are discussing the dangers posed by designer drugs such as ecstasy, speed and LSD.

The two-day conference in Dunblane features a speaker from the US Drugs Enforcement Agency.

The 200 delegates are also hearing from doctors and police chiefs.

Those attending include representatives of Scotland's eight police forces, the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) and the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

'Mind-blowing' profits

The availability and production of manufactured drugs including LSD, ecstasy, GHB, hallucinogens and stimulants was discussed on Thursday.

The conference heard that thinly-populated parts are seen as ideal locations by criminal gangs because the chemicals used in such drugs factories are extremely pungent and explosive.

Les Fiander, a UK police officer who is head of a Netherlands-based anti-drugs agency, said the laboratories were also "mind-blowingly profitable".

He said: "There have been quite a number of illegal production sites of synthetic drugs in Scotland.

"And being an area of outstanding natural beauty is no protection against this sort of activity.

"In fact it's quite the opposite because Scotland's remote parts offer obvious benefits to drugs traffickers."

Those who are involved should be looking over their shoulder because we will catch up with them, sooner than they might think John Vine Acpos

John Cotner, of the Clandestine Lab Training Unit at the Drug Enforcement Agency in Washington, said labs had been detected in camper vans, caves, boats and hotel rooms, and that many police officers had been injured by noxious fumes while raiding such factories.

On Friday, First Minister Jack McConnell will address the gathering in a keynote speech.

Outlining the aims of the event, Graeme Pearson, SDEA director and conference chairman, said: "I anticipate that the contributions made by such a wide range of expert professionals in the drug field will serve as an excellent experience for those working in this area.

"A better understanding of the nature and extent of the problem we face when tackling the issue of synthetic drugs will allow us to direct our efforts to combating the threat of illegal production, trafficking and the misuse of these products."

John Vine, Chief Constable of Tayside Police and president of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos), gave the opening address.

He said progress was being made in the war against drugs.

Law enforcement

He said: "The Scottish Police Service and other enforcement agencies are seizing record quantities of drugs.

"We are also investing in drugs education and prevention to steer our young people towards healthy lifestyles, and we are supporting new and improved services across Scotland to help those who have developed drug problems."

Mr Vine said it was vital that local communities continued to play an "important role" in providing police with intelligence about drug-related crime.

In a warning to dealers, he added: "The Scottish Police Service will continue to bring a little misery back to the dealers who peddle this evil trade.

"Those who are involved should be looking over their shoulder because we will catch up with them, sooner than they might think."

The conference is designed to examine specific areas of the drug scene and look at the problem from a global as well as a local perspective with a view to improving law enforcement.