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£80m recovered from Scotland’s criminals

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More than £80 million in ill-gotten gains has been recovered by the authorities over the past decade under proceeds of crime laws.

In the last year alone, more than £12 million was netted from people involved in activities such as drug dealing, human trafficking and benefit fraud.

About £8 million of the 2012/13 figure was confiscated from convicted criminals while a further £4 million in cash and assets was to be seized through civil court orders.

The figures were revealed by the Crown Office and provide an overview of the work of the authorities in the 10 years since the Proceeds of Crime Act came into force.

Lindsey Miller, head of the Crown Office’s serious and organised crime division, said the Act has proven to be a powerful tool in the hands of prosecutors.

“We have taken more than £80 million from criminals, which otherwise could have been reinvested in their criminal enterprises,” she said.

“However, we have not become complacent in our success. Crime evolves and we must evolve with it.”

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “Prosecutors and police are cracking down on organised crime and criminals have nowhere to hide.

“More than £12 million has been confiscated from criminals last year, hitting them where it hurts their wallets.

“Our communities are benefiting from the hard work of prosecutors and police putting ill-gotten gains to good use through our CashBack for Communities programme, which invests crooks’ cash in facilities and activities for our young people and their communities across the length and breadth of the country.”