Police in Tennessee have arrested a man after he reportedly tried to flush his drugs stash down the toilet - with police saying it could lead to "meth-gators" in Alabama.

According to the Loretto Police Department, the suspected drug dealer was caught trying to dump methamphetamine down the toilet over the weekend when they entered the man's home.

The police found 12 grams of meth and 24 ounces of liquid meth, as well as several items of drug paraphernalia.

He was charged with possession of drugs with intent to sell, possession of paraphernalia and tampering with evidence.

In a message on Facebook, the police department said: "This Folks… please don't flush your drugs m'kay (sic). When you send something down the sewer pipe it ends up in our retention ponds for processing before it is sent down stream.


"Now our sewer guys take great pride in releasing water that is cleaner than what is in the creek, but they are not really prepared for meth."

It added: "Ducks, Geese, and other fowl frequent our treatment ponds and we shudder to think what one all hyped up on meth would do.

"Furthermore, if it made it far enough we could create meth-gators in Shoal Creek and the Tennessee River down in North Alabama. They've had enough meth-ed up animals the past few weeks without our help.

"So, if you need to dispose of your drugs just give us a call and we will make sure they are disposed of in the proper way."

Image: The Alabama 'attack squirrel' was allegedly fed drugs by its owner

It is not known what effect methamphetamine has on alligators, however a study in London found that even low levels of cocaine found in the River Thames can lead to hyperactivity in eels.

Earlier in the month, another Alabama man was arrested after allegedly feeding meth to what police described as an "attack squirrel" called Deeznuts, although the force admitted it could not test the animal for drugs. The 35-year-old was charged with a state wildlife offence.