A recent meth bust by a collaboration of law enforcement agencies is alarming for two reasons: the pungent odor apparent in one of the trailers, and more disturbingly, the presence of a 4-year-old in the trailer.

Seven people were arrested, six ending up in Freeborn County jail, Feb. 24, for making meth. Four law enforcement agencies &045; the South Central Drug Task Force, the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, the Albert Lea Police Department and the Minnesota State Patrol cooperated in making the bust. Upon entering one of the trailers, officers noted a &uot;very pungent&uot; odor, and had to evacuate the home.

The manufacture of meth includes the mixing of several toxic chemicals. The obvious effects of using meth have long been documented, but what are the effects of inhaling the noxious fumes? The potential health risks for law enforcement officers shouldn’t be diminished.

Wearing gas masks when entering homes where the manufacture of meth is suspected should become standard procedure soon and our local drug fighting agencies should take the lead on such a standard.

In the course of evacuating the trailer, officers found a sleeping 4-year-old. This is intolerable. Perhaps you recall the recent case in northern Minnesota where a mother who admitted using meth abandoned her baby in a freezing apartment. This mother, termed a good mother by her friends and family, acted negligently under the influence of meth.

The danger of having meth chemicals and paraphernalia lying around for a curious child to “play” with is inconceivable. Exposing an innocent mind to the destructive culture of meth &045; or any drug for that matter &045; should carry a heavy penalty.

Law enforcement can’t be tough enough on such crimes, especially when it involves a child. And the Legislature should not fear making extremely harsh laws for those convicted of meth use or the manufucture of meth.