Donald Trump has hinted that he wants to see the death penalty for drug dealers.

The US president said some other countries use the "ultimate penalty" for such people and it appeared to be effective in reducing the scourge of drugs.

Mr Trump was speaking at an "Opioid Summit" at the White House aimed at tackling America's opioid crisis.

He said: "If you shoot one person they give you the death penalty. These people (drug dealers) can kill two or three thousand people and nothing happens to them.

"The answer is you have to have strength and toughness. Drug dealers and pushers are really doing damage.

"Some countries have the tough penalty, the ultimate penalty. And by the way they have much less of a drug problem than we do."

Mr Trump is believed to have privately praised Singapore's policy of using the death penalty for drug traffickers.