21 July 2023 , 08:57
594
0
Drugged-up sharks could be eating large amounts of cocaine getting dumped off the coast, experts have warned.
Smugglers are thought to be dropping packages of the illegal drug either to be picked up later or just to escape law enforcement.
Batches of the drug have been known to wash up on Florida beaches.
During an investigation into the issue, marine biologist Tom Hird spotted a hammerhead shark and a sandbar shark that appear to be behaving in an odd manner.
Mr Hird, also known by his YouTube nickname The Blowfish, along with University of Florida environmental scientist Tracy Fanara, wanted to investigate if sharks were eating cocaine.
Possession of heroin and cocaine no longer a crime in province in radical move
Cocaine seized by authorities off Florida (AFP via Getty Images)Observing sharks and running experiments off the coast of Florida Keys, they made a documentary for Discovery's Shark Week called Cocaine Sharks.
During a dive, they spotted a hammerhead shark and a sandbar shark that appear to be behaving in an odd manner.
They also dropped packages that looked like bales of cocaine in the area. The sharks would swim straight up to them and bite into them.
Experts made imitation bales and saw sharks bite them (Getty Images)Not to put the sharks at risk, they would use concentrated fish powder in place of the illegal drug.
Mr Hird reportedly said in the documentary: "We gave them what I think is the next best thing. [It] set [their] brains aflame. It was crazy."
Scientists haven't been able to confirm the sharks are actually consuming cocaine and it is not known how the drug would affect the sea creatures.
The experts hope more research will be conducted.
Cocaine Sharks premieres on the Discovery Channel at 10pm Eastern and Pacific on July 26.