Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Andhra Pradesh Government has converted major ganja cultivation zones into regions producing legal crops, notably premium coffee, drawing national and international praise. State Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha announced the development during a media briefing on Monday, crediting the turnaround to a strong, multi-departmental anti-drug campaign. “Areas like Araku and Paderu, once infamous for ganja cultivation, are now celebrated globally for their coffee,” Anitha said. “We have uprooted a deep-rooted menace and planted the seeds of progress.”

The TDP-led government, soon after taking office, formed a high-level sub-committee with ministers from Home, Education, Medical, Excise, and Tribal Welfare to combat the drug problem. As part of this initiative, Eagle Task Force units were launched in Amaravati, Visakhapatnam, and Rajamahendravaram, and Eagle Cells were set up in all 26 districts to ensure constant surveillance.

Check posts and CCTV cameras were installed at strategic points, leading to significant seizures and arrests over the past year: 831 cases registered, 2,114 arrests made, 23,770 kg of ganja and 27 liters of hashish oil seized, along with 293 vehicles. Notably, 27 train-based operations targeting smuggling routes to Odisha led to six arrests and the confiscation of 37 kg of ganja and 152 cannabis-laced chocolates.

In ASR district, 94.77 acres of ganja farms were replaced with legal crops, supported by 31,185 saplings. Statewide, 40 lakh saplings were distributed to benefit 35,000 tribal households, promoting sustainable livelihoods. To curb youth addiction, over 40,000 schools and colleges have launched Eagle Clubs, fostering awareness under the slogan: “No to Drugs, Brother.”