That is according to new figures from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, which reveal that the sum was seized on the back of just two court orders relating to drug activity in 2010-11.
The significant haul comes in the wake of two years when the courts did not confiscate any funds in the area under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). Tayside Police's Detective Superintendent Willie Semple said money is at the heart of organised crime. He stressed that one of the force's main aims is to continue to disrupt the flow of illegal cash used by criminals in the area.
"The lifestyle and status it brings is the main motivation for most criminals. And just as legitimate businesses need funding to stay afloat, so does organised crime," he said. "Without cash flow, deals can't be made and people can't be paid. For both these reasons, many organised criminals fear attacks on their finances and lifestyle more than prison."
As well as delivering a major blow to organised crime the capture of illegal money goes a long way to help, instead of harm, communities. The Scottish Government reinvests the funds through its CashBack for Communities programme providing real benefits to public organisations.
"Tayside Police is determined to ensure that criminals can't enjoy their profits," added DS Semple. "We also want to reduce the harm they cause by getting in between them and their working capital. "The driving principle behind our approach is that criminals must not be allowed to hold onto their assets, profits and lifestyles.
"We will do everything we can to ensure they don't have it, can't use it, and can't flaunt it. "We investigate wherever we can, using traditional law enforcement methods — investigating and arresting criminals and working with prosecutors to put them behind bars.
"We also use other new and innovative tools and powers to make crime harder to commit. "Serious organised criminals are committed to making money from their illicit activities and so recovering criminal assets is a priority for Tayside Police.
"Funds recovered from criminals will continue to be confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime legislation, and that money will then be put to good use through the Scottish Government's CashBack for Communities programme, with a number of Tayside groups already having benefited from the scheme.''
The Scottish Government has committed over £40 million of investment in the CashBack for Communities programme, helping over 500,000 young people.
One such example was a joint initiative between Dundee Contemporary Arts and Dundee Rep Theatre, which delivered a national pilot for 10 to 19-year-olds. The 18-month Creative Identities scheme provided arts and moving image media activities to young people in Tayside and managed to do so with a budget delivered through the CashBack programme.