Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Province to ban drug-lab booby traps

The Manitoba government introduced legislation Tuesday that would outlaw the setting of booby traps in drug labs or marijuana grow operations.

Attorney General Andrew Swan said the new law would be added to the province's Fortified Buildings Act.

Swan said while such traps are more common in other jurisdictions, it's only a matter of time before police encounter them in Manitoba.

"We are not going to wait for tragedy to happen," Swan said.

The bill is aimed at protecting police, firefighters and paramedics who could inadvertently walk into a trap during the course of their duty. Such traps, including bombs, are commonly used by criminals to stop intruders from stealing drugs.

Swan also pointed to a recent federal study that surveyed 36 emergency workers across Canada. Respondents said such traps caused them the most concern in terms of their safety and health with the increase in indoor marijuana grow-ops and clandestine illegal-drug laboratories in Canada.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 2, 2012 B2

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