Scotland should play a bigger role in smashing drug operations on the international stage, according to First Minister Jack McConnell.

Mr McConnell was speaking as he met a number of top US drugs officers at a meeting of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Forum in Fife.

Speaking before the conference, he said: "I want Scotland to be a centre of excellence in tackling drugs and also play our full part nationally and internationally.

"One of the key ways we can do this is by seizing through powerful new legislation more of the funds drug dealers use to spread misery in communities.

Jack McConnell wants a global approach

"This special meeting will help us crack down on dealers and make crime pay. This is a global menace which needs a tough global response."

Attacking the global problem was a key message from Richard Fiano, director of US drug operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

He said: "We have to globalise. There is so much diversity, languages, tribal affiliations, dialects and family ties, that the only way we are going to attack and dismantle these drug trafficking organisations is through global communication.

"The parochialism that used to exist among agencies is really breaking down and we have to be able to exchange information.

"Wherever it is possible to take drug traffickers down, that is where we have to go to take them down."

Mr McConnell said he was delighted that officials from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) were able to attend the event in Kincardine on Monday.

'Big success'

He extended the invitation after accompanying officers on an operation in New York during the Tartan Day celebrations.

The first minister invited them to Scotland to share their knowledge with the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency (SDEA).

Mr McConnell said: "Our DEA has been a big success and there has been a massive increase in captures and drug seizures.

Dr Richard Simpson: "Massive trade"

"We need to build on that because there are still too many drugs coming into Scotland and there are still too many people using drugs, which gives the suppliers the incentive they need."

Mr McConnell announced that �180,000 seized from drug dealers is to be used to help families affected by drug addiction.

The money will provide counselling for families of addicts and help for grandparents forced to look after grandchildren whose parents are drug addicts.

Drugs Minister Dr Richard Simpson said efforts to disrupt drug gangs in Scotland had been "massively successful".

"The degree to which we can disrupt this very massive trade is still limited, but we are getting better at it and this conference will help improve this," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

Drugs with a street value of �20m were seized in Scotland between 2001 and 2002.

More than 170 people were arrested for trafficking offences.

New powers to seize the assets of drug dealers and suspected drug dealers under the Proceeds of Crime Bill are expected to come into force early next year.