WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Recent incidents of drug smugglers losing or discarding millions of dollars worth of cocaine off the Florida coast have raised concerns among researchers about the potential impact on marine life. In an eye-opening experiment conducted for the upcoming Discovery Channel Show ‘Cocaine Sharks,’ set to air on July 25 during Shark Week, scientists observed sharks showing a curious interest in objects resembling drug packages.
Dr. Tracy Fanara, a Florida environmental engineer, expressed her thoughts on the matter, highlighting the importance of addressing the growing problem.
“It’s a really catchy title for a really, you know, growing problem of chemicals in our waterways that are affecting aquatic life. We know that this is happening already. We know that pharmaceuticals, like psychotics and depression medications, all of this stuff is impacting our aquatic life, but we also know that recreational drugs do as well,” Fanara told CBS News.
The issue of drug smuggling off the Florida coast has been making headlines recently. In fact, just this week U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that a boater discovered 70 pounds of cocaine in the Florida Keys. Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar tweeted a picture of the drugs, which have an estimated street value of $1.1 million.
In addition, a separate incident in north Florida over the weekend involved a large quantity of marijuana washing up on Neptune Beach. The Neptune Beach Police Department posted pictures of the scene on Facebook.
These incidents are part of an ongoing pattern. Last month Emily’s Hope reported that between June 1 and June 6, more than six pounds of cocaine washed ashore on Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach. Also in June, the Coast Guard found 14,153 pounds of cocaine worth more than $186 million near Miami.
Earlier this year the Walton County Sheriff’s Office said that three cocaine packages had washed ashore on three different areas of beach. The packages were worth more than $100,000