Seizures of cocaine and crack have risen by 22%

The total number of seizures jumped by 3,129 in the past two years to 24,941 in 2005/6.

The numbers of seizures of crack and cocaine rose 22% to 1,381 since 2003/4. The number of incidences in which police recovered crack doubled.

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said the rise showed that police were successfully enforcing drug policy.

The executive also announced a drop in the number of injecting drug users, with more addicts seeking help.

Seizures of cannabis - recently downgraded to class C - still account for 94% incidences, but although the figure rose by 10% between 2003/4 and 2004/5, it dropped again slightly last year.

Ecstasy seizures are also falling.

'Scourge on communities'

Heroin seizures also showed a steady increase, rising from 2,224 to 3,175 in the last two years.

"Drugs and the people who peddle them are a scourge on our communities," said Ms Jamieson.

"These figures show that Scotland's police forces are continuing to play a vital and uncompromising role in combating this evil trade."

The results showed the necessity of strong enforcement, Ms Jamieson said.

She added that it also showed the importance of the executive's Drug Dealers Don't Care campaign, which has resulted in over 5,000 calls to Crimestoppers, 530 arrests and the seizure of over �1.6m worth of cash and drugs.

However she admitted that enforcement alone could not tackle Scotland's drug problems.

"We need to be alive to the emerging threats of crack and cocaine and ensure that we have measures that keep more of our young people free from drugs," she added.

"We are determined to step up our work with all the agencies involved - tackling criminals, educating against the dangers, and breaking the links between addiction and offending."