MANITOBA TARGETS GANG ASSETS

WINNIPEG -- The Manitoba government is moving ahead with a controversial law
that would strip suspected gang members of their assets even if they are not
convicted of a crime. "It will be in force very shortly, in the next few
weeks," said Jeff Schnoor, executive director of policy development with the
Justice Department.

The Criminal Property Forfeiture Act was approved by the legislature last
spring. Since then, Justice officials have been working out details of the
law before enacting it.

The detailed regulations will outline how the seized assets are to be
handled.

"It's going to set out the procedures that have to be followed for the sale
of property once it's been forfeited," said Schnoor.

The law would allow police to seize the homes, cars, cash and other property
of any person, as long as they could convince a judge that the person is a
member of a criminal organization.