Five drums, approximately 50 gallons each, of piperidine were found behind a building at 1410 Laurel St. today at about 9 a.m.
“The product in these drums is used to make PCP, so it is highly flammable,” Brick Lewis, the spokesman of Columbia Fire Department said. The chemicals were found through a DEA investigation.
Three buildings in the vicinity were evacuated.
According to the fire department officials, the phoned in bomb threat that occurred on the 1200 block of Laurel Street has no connection to the chemicals found and everything is currently clear.
“Right now, we are continuing investigation along with law enforcement, collecting evidence,” said Lewis.
The DEA is in the process of transporting the product and the Columbia Fire Department left the scene.