‘Fearless cocaine-fuelled sharks’ could attack tourists as gangs throw drugs overboard

A growing number of experts are worried about the impact of dumped cocaine on sharks There are growing fears that sharks under the influence of cocaine could start attacking tourists this summer as gangs dump their cargo into the sea. Earlier this week, the General Director of MundoPark, a zoo in Spain, warned that sharks which consume Class A drugs could become fearless and start attacking humans. Speaking to local media, Mr Malpartida warned that drug traffickers were throwing their drugs into the sea, leaving them to be consumed by local wildlife. While cocaine is known to be harmful to humans, its impact on sharks is less understood, according to Spanish news site Ultima Hora. Mr Malpartida said that when the bales are thrown into the ocean ‘before they reach the bottom, a shark or any species of fish in the sea can eat them’. READ MORE The UK street where millionaires live at one end and crack addicts at the other [LATEST] There are concerns sharks could be suffering from withdrawal symptoms He added: ‘If drugs go into the sea on a daily basis, and we all know this happens, it is normal for the nervous system of these animals to be altered.’ Mr Malpartida added that the emotional rush the animals get from ingesting the cocaine could make them more dangerous. He explained: ‘The euphoria…makes them much more dangerous and aggressive.’ Researchers are also looking into whether sharks off the coast of Florida are being affected Mr Malpartida also said the sharks could remain dangerous even after they stop consuming the cocaine because of withdrawal symptoms. He explained the ‘withdrawal syndrome’ can make them ‘have less fear, which they already have little of, of approaching the coast’. As a result of a reduced fear of humans, Mr Malpartida said this could increase the likelihood of shark attacks. Some experts have suggested cocaine-fuelled sharks could be the reason why more have been spotted closer to the coastline in recent years. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Little is known about the exact impact of cocaine on sharks