The Elite Anti-Narcotics Group for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) seized about 57,000 kg ganja and 53 litres of hasish oil in 1,901 cases in the State. The police arrested 5,236 drug offenders, seized 803 vehicles used for smuggling ganja and other drugs, and opened 4,700 history sheets against drug peddlers in the State over the past few months.
鈥淓AGLE brought down area under ganja cultivation from 11,000 acres to 100 acres. Over 16,000 awareness programmes were organised to explain the ill-effects and the consequences of drug addiction,鈥 said EAGLE head and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ake Ravi Krishna.
鈥淲e are focussing on migrant workers engaged in various factories and manufacturing units and on educational institutions with the theme 鈥楽ay No to Drugs and Focus on Skills鈥,鈥 the IGP said.
45,000 EAGLE clubs
The A.P. government has issued a circular to establish about 45,000 鈥楨AGLE clubs鈥 in education institutions, including private schools, universities and professional, engineering and medical colleges. 鈥淓AGLE formed 7,600 clubs in schools, colleges and universities so far. Efforts are on to open EAGLE clubs in the remaining universities and conduct awareness drives against the use of marijuana, MDMA and other drugs,鈥 the IGP told The Hindu on Wednesday.
858 hotspots
The police have identified 858 hotspots where drug smuggling, selling and consuming were being done in the State. Instructions have been given to step up vigil, patrolling and disrupt the supply chain to check drug peddling.
鈥淥ur officers observed that ganja and drug peddlers were using abandoned and isolated places for drug trafficking and use. We are monitoring the movements of the habitual drug offenders,鈥 Mr. Ravi Krishna said.
EAGLE has launched the 鈥楬elpline 1972鈥 for the public to report drug smuggling, use and sale. The helpline should be displayed on the notice boards in all schools and colleges.
鈥淭o curb inter-State drug trafficking, 20 check-points have been set up in Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR), Parvatipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts, with CCTVs and drones,鈥 Mr. Ravi Krishna explained.