Police officers ingested cocaine thrown by Aberdeen drug dealer

Officers accidentally inhaled the drug when it was thrown at them

Four police officers accidentally ingested cocaine after a drug dealer hurled it at them during a raid.

Michael Beaton threw the block of powder which burst over the officers at a house in Aberdeen.

One officer had his nose and mouth covered by the drug before the Class A substance, which has been valued at £88,000, was seized.

Beaton and co-accused Dylan Dunlop admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin.

Beaton, 27, also admitted culpable and reckless conduct and further pled guilty to assaulting one officer by punching him in the head during his arrest.

Advocate depute Colin Edward told the court that police forced entry to the property in Waukmill Crescent on 19 June.

Cocaine inhaled

Beaton reacted by throwing a block of compressed powder which burst, causing it to shower the officers' skin and clothing.

One officer took hold of Beaton's right arm and instructed him to go to the floor but was attacked and punched.

He was said to have inhaled some of the powder through his nose and mouth and noticed that his lips, tongue and throat were tingly and started to go numb.

The officer was coughing and tried to wash as much of the white powder as possible from his mouth with water.

Three other responding officers also ingested the powder.

The court heard that police had recovered drugs sold through the dealing operation before staging the raid.

As well as recovering drugs from the house they also found items used to manufacture crack cocaine.

Full and empty bottles of ammonia were found along with a pan containing ammonia that was in the process of being heated.

The judge, Lord Ericht, deferred sentence on the pair to obtain background reports and remanded them in custody.

The Crown has meanwhile raised proceedings to seize crime profits from them.