Mystery Dunnet beach drum contents analysed at Dounreay – just what was in it?
When beach cleaners at Dunnet found a blue barrel filled with a strange "yellow powder" back in January speculation was rife that it could be toxic waste or illicit drugs from a smuggling operation gone wrong.
Police cordoned off approaches to Dunnet beach as the plastic barrel and some of the spilled contents were removed from the area – with Highland Council then requesting assistance from specialists at Dounreay to help solve the mystery.
Doug McGeachin, waste and environmental delivery manager at Dounreay said: “Once the sample was analysed it was found to be solidified vegetable oil and the drum was safely disposed of in the landfill at Seater.
“I would like to thank my colleagues involved from waste and interim end state teams who were able to assist the Highland Council to resolve the situation.”
Police, fire services, Highland Council and SEPA were all involved in removal and examination of the barrel after it was initially discovered by beach cleaners on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 18. The beach was cordoned off for safety reasons by the police and spills from the barrel were removed from the shoreline. The beach cleaners, who did not wish to be named, speculated that it could be toxic material or even a consignment of Class A drugs lost by smugglers.
The two people were removing plastics and other rubbish from the beach when one of them thought he saw a person struggling in the water – it turned out to be the large blue barrel bobbing about, however.
One of the duo said: "It was in the sea in the waves near the shore but because there were bags in it, it was sitting upright. He started rolling it out and up the beach, but the bags at the bottom were making it difficult, so he pulled one part way along the barrel so that it rolled better.
"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."
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 wore "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.
Aberdeen fire services were initially tasked to solve the mystery until the council asked Dounreay to help. The barrel finders were told by the coastguard that they would be able to claim salvage and one of the beach cleaners joked that it might be cocaine worth around £3M. "They said we could have the barrel. Haha, I guess salvage rights don’t apply to class A drugs!"
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Tourists speak about 'human' bone find as police investigation continues
Dorcas Sinclair, who founded the eco-conscious Caithness Beach Cleans (CBC) group that has picked up tons of plastic and other waste from the county's coast, said: "Whilst beach cleaning is a good thing to do – it keeps you fit, healthy, both mentally and physically, it helps the planet, it’s good for the local economy and good for the local wildlife – it can have its downside.
"Sometimes, potentially dangerous items can be found. If anything is found that looks like it might be dangerous then the police should be contacted right away.
"When CBC members found a blue drum full of a yellow powder on the beach, not knowing what it was or if it might be dangerous, it was immediately reported. The response from the local police was swift – they cordoned off the drum and the beach until it could be deemed safe. As soon as it had been dealt with to their satisfaction the beach was reopened and all went on as usual."
Dorcas said that ordnance can be found as well as medical items. "Beach cleaning can be dangerous as can being on the beach when these items have not been found, reported and removed."
German tourists found what they believed could be a human leg bone on the same beach at the end of August and Police Scotland is currently investigating the matter.
