A MAN who tried to smuggle millions of pounds worth of heroin from Italy to Scotland by disguising the drug as breadsticks has lost £48,000 to prosecutors.

Richard Harrison, 58, was snared as part of Operation Themis. He was part of a gang which smuggled the drug into the UK from continental Europe.

He was caught after cops in the Italian port of Bari found 34 kilos of the Class A powder concealed in breadsticks.

The Scouser was ordered to hand the cash over to Crown Office lawyers following a proceeds of crime hearing yesterday.

Harrison pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of drugs in November 2013 and was handed a nine year jail sentence in November 2013.

He appeared before judge Lord McEwan yesterday at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Speaking after the case, the procurator fiscal for Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism , Lindsey Miller welcomed the court's decision, adding: "Richard Harrison was a key player in an international drug smuggling ring that planned to bring dozens of kilos of heroin onto the streets of Scotland.

"The funds recovered will be reinvested in the community by the Scottish Ministers through the Cashback for Communities programme."