CAPE COD CRYSTAL METH LABS NOW LIKELY: Bomb squads & Hazmat teams...

Above photo: Blue Rhino driver John Pereira Jr. speaking with a Yarmouth Detective…

YARMOUTH – Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squads and a Hazmat team were called in yesterday to deal with a suspicious propane tank reportedly containing anhydrous ammonia.

Anhydrous ammonia is a volatile pungent gas often used in the illicit production of methamphetamines, such as “crystal meth…”

Propane tanks used in meth manufacturing are often emptied and used to transport anhydrous ammonia. The tanks become hazardous and dangerous to reuse because the ammonia chemical compound, which is often stored under high pressure in liquid form, reacts with certain metals and weakens the structure. The tanks become an explosion hazard. Anhydrous ammonia also presents potentially lethal health complications if inhaled, or even when it comes in contact with the skin… The severity of the adverse effects depends on the level of exposure…

Friday, John Pereira Jr., a driver for Blue Rhino was servicing the propane tank exchange outside of Waterwheel Liquors in South Yarmouth when he noticed a tank with a crusty green brass valve. Blue Rhino employees are trained to recognize the signs of compromised tanks due to anhydrous ammonia exposure. According to Pereira, Blue Rhino employees receive an 18 hour safety training course which deals with hazards such as the possibility of tanks being misused for transporting volatile chemicals and gasses.

Saturday, Pereira was servicing the tank exchange outside of the Mobil Gas Station on Route 28 when he again noticed signs of anhydrous ammonia. Police were once again contacted and two bomb squad units, along with a regional hazmat team, responded to deal with the dangerous situation.

Yesterday (Saturday), the tank was reportedly full and it took much longer to make the gas stable. A member of the bomb squad and two hazmat workers carefully stabilized the gas by releasing it from the tank underwater. A plastic trash barrel was filled with water and positioned near to where the tank was discovered. By releasing the gas underwater, emergency workers were able to make it less volatile as it was filtered through the water and into the atmosphere…

Emergency workers arrived on scene at about 3pm and finally cleared the scene at around 6:26pm. The gas station was closed to the public for most of that time.

Yarmouth police are investigating both Friday and Saturday incidents. The Mobil Gas station and the Waterwheel Liquor store are located just over one mile apart on Route 28.

Up until recently, the existence of crystal meth labs on Cape Cod was unheard of…

Police are still investigating and HN will provide additional information and updates as they become available.

The following video highlights today’s scene. It shows the bomb squad and hazmat workers releasing the gas and making the tank safe…

[Press play… Select HD in the settings and enlarge player for best quality…]