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Sharks may be consuming cocaine dumped in the waters off Florida and it could be making them act in "crazy" ways, scientists have said.
Smugglers have left countless tonnes of cocaine in the seas around Florida, transported from South and Central America, either to be collected by associates or to avoid arrest. The drugs are then often washed into shore on ocean currents.
Just last month, the US Coast Guard seized more than 14,100 pounds (6,400 kg) of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, with an estimated value of $186m (£142m).
Marine biologist, Tom 'The Blowfish' Hird, and University of Florida environmental scientist, Tracy Fanara, studied sharks off the Florida Keys to see if the drugs were having any impact on them.
During one dive to observe behaviour, a great hammerhead - a species which normally avoids humans - came straight at the team and appeared to be swimming wonkily.
news.sky.com
Smugglers have left countless tonnes of cocaine in the seas around Florida, transported from South and Central America, either to be collected by associates or to avoid arrest. The drugs are then often washed into shore on ocean currents.
Just last month, the US Coast Guard seized more than 14,100 pounds (6,400 kg) of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, with an estimated value of $186m (£142m).
Marine biologist, Tom 'The Blowfish' Hird, and University of Florida environmental scientist, Tracy Fanara, studied sharks off the Florida Keys to see if the drugs were having any impact on them.
During one dive to observe behaviour, a great hammerhead - a species which normally avoids humans - came straight at the team and appeared to be swimming wonkily.
Cocaine dumped in the sea off Florida could have 'crazy' consequences if sharks eat it, scientists find
Researchers ran experiments to see how sharks would react to objects resembling drugs dumped in the water. They found the predators could go into a frenzy to get at the fake bales of cocaine.
news.sky.com
