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**Summary:**

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has declared a war on drugs, vowing stringent action against drug peddlers and users. Speaking at an EAGLE-organized walkathon, he criticized the previous government for allowing the state to become a hub for drug production, particularly ganja cultivation in Visakhapatnam. He announced new initiatives including a WhatsApp number, toll-free helpline and de-addiction centers. He cautioned that drug abuse would sabotage current development agendas such as a Quantum Valley in Amaravati.

**News Article:**

**Andhra Pradesh CM Declares War on Drugs, Vows Crackdown on Traffickers**

**GUNTUR, Andhra Pradesh – June 26, 2025** – Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has launched a fierce campaign against drug abuse and trafficking, promising decisive action to eliminate the menace of narcotics in the state. Speaking at a walkathon organized by the Elite Anti-Narcotics Group for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) in Guntur on Thursday, marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Naidu emphasized that drug addiction poses a significant societal threat.

“We are committed to ensuring 100% law and order. Drones and CCTV surveillance are being used effectively to prevent crime,” Naidu stated.

The Chief Minister announced the launch of a dedicated WhatsApp number ‘897781972’ and a toll-free helpline ‘1972’, aiming to facilitate reporting and provide immediate assistance. He also unveiled plans to establish world-class de-addiction centers in all three regions of Andhra Pradesh, projecting a significant reduction in drug-related problems within a year.

Naidu sharply criticized the previous YSRCP government, accusing them of allowing ganja cultivation to flourish, especially in the Visakhapatnam Agency, turning the region into a drug production hub. He alleged that former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy failed to take appropriate action and, had even visited a “ganja batch” in Tenali, highlighting that politicians should set a positive example.

Drawing parallels to his past successes in transforming Hyderabad into an IT hub, Naidu cautioned that drug abuse could derail the state’s current development agenda, including the establishment of a Quantum Valley in Amaravati.

Inspector General of Police and EAGLE head, Ake Ravi Krishna, reported that 15 individuals involved in drug trafficking and abuse had already been arrested and jailed, assuring continued stringent enforcement.

Prathipadu MLA Burla Ramanjaneyulu echoed the Chief Minister’s sentiments, condemning the previous government for turning Andhra Pradesh into the “ganja capital,” and praising Naidu’s zero-tolerance stance on drugs.

The event was attended by Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, and various state ministers, signaling a unified front in the fight against drugs.

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