Wed Nov 27 16:10:39 UTC 2024: ## Andhra Pradesh Launches “Eagle” Task Force to Combat Drug Trafficking
**Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh – November 27, 2024** – The Andhra Pradesh government has launched a comprehensive crackdown on drug trafficking, renaming its Anti-Narcotic Task Force as “Eagle” and unveiling a multi-pronged strategy to curb the supply and cultivation of ganja (marijuana) within the state.
A cabinet sub-committee, including Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh, Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar, and other officials, met Wednesday to finalize the plan. The initiative aims to eradicate the drug menace within the next six months.
Key components of the strategy include:
* **Enhanced Technology:** The police will leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital forensics, facial recognition, and social media monitoring to identify and apprehend traffickers.
* **Inter-departmental Coordination:** Improved collaboration between Education, Police, Forests, Transport, Tribal Welfare, and Health departments will be crucial in disrupting the supply chain.
* **Public Awareness Campaigns:** A state-wide awareness program titled “Maha Sankalpam” will target schools, colleges, universities, and villages to educate the public about the dangers of drug abuse.
* **New Hotline:** Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will soon launch a toll-free number, “Eagle 1972,” for citizens to report drug-related activities.
Minister Anitha emphasized the government’s commitment to eliminating the problem, highlighting the integrated approach combining technology, public awareness, and inter-departmental cooperation as vital in achieving this goal.
First Piper 