UPDATE: Police cordon removed from Dunnet beach after mystery barrel of powder is taken away
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The police cordon at Dunnet beach has now been removed after a barrel containing an unknown powder was taken away for analysis and declared "benign".
On Wednesday last week, two local beach cleaners found a large blue plastic barrel filled with bags of yellowish powder that they speculated could be toxic or a batch of illicit drugs lost by smugglers.
Today (January 23), a local authority spokesperson told the paper: “Highland Council was asked to assist with the uplift and disposal of the barrel and its contents which are believed to be non-hazardous from Dunnet Bay beach. The cordon has been removed.”
Related article:
Dunnet beach closed by police as mystery barrel is investigated – toxic waste or Class A drug batch?
A spokesperson for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) also said today: “SEPA is aware of a barrel of an unidentified powdery substance on Dunnet Beach.
“We liaised with the Highland Council and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, who carried out preliminary tests which indicated the substance was benign. The Highland Council has removed the barrel and it remains in their possession ahead of further tests, which will determine how the material will be disposed of.
“SEPA is content there is no impact to the environment and will continue to liaise with the Highland Council to ensure appropriate disposal of the material.”
The beach cleaners, who did not wish to be named, were removing plastics and other rubbish from the coast when one of them thought they saw a person struggling in the water but it turned out to be the barrel bobbing about.
Speaking last week, one of the beach cleaners said: "We don't know what was in the barrel we found [but] it was bags of yellow powder. The one at the top had burst and some of the powder landed on the beach. The police monitored the beach last night and closed it off today."
The man who discovered the barrel was told to "strip and shower and wasn't allowed to eat or drink until there were absolutely no adverse symptoms". He said he was thankful that he wears good gloves but his clothes had to be put in a bag and left outside until the identity of the mystery substance could be ascertained.
Police and fire service personnel were involved in the operation to make the area secure on Wednesday evening until Highland Council could arrange removal of the barrel and its contents, some of which had emptied on to the sand. Though the yellowish powder was declared "benign" there has been no announcement as to what it exactly is and where it may have come from.
