The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano State Strategic Command, has uncovered a network of caves and underground tunnels used as drug hideouts in the Rimin Kebe area of Kano State.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday in Kano by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari.
According to the statement, the operation—codenamed “Operation Sharar Mafaka”—is part of a renewed crackdown on illicit drug activities across the state.
Muhammad-Maigatari quoted the NDLEA Kano Commander, Dahiru Yahaya-Lawal, as saying the discovery followed credible intelligence and sustained surveillance.
He explained that operatives raided the Rimin Kebe enclave on May 4, where they confirmed the existence of multiple caves modified into living quarters and trading hubs by suspected drug dealers.
Some of the caves, he noted, were furnished with household items such as mats, pillows, food flasks, plates, and cutlery—suggesting regular use and organised drug operations.
He added that several other caves and tunnels, some still under construction, appear to provide underground links between the hideouts.
The commander stated that a number of the structures have already been dismantled, while efforts are ongoing to demolish and secure the remaining ones.
He emphasised that the operation is part of the agency’s intensified drive to eliminate drug trafficking and abuse in Kano State.
“We will continue to pursue these elements wherever they hide,” Yahaya-Lawal said.
“Our commitment is firm. Those still involved in illicit drug activities should reconsider now, as we will not relent until Kano is free from drug abuse and trafficking.”
He noted that the operation aligns with the directive of the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, to dismantle drug networks nationwide.
The agency also urged residents to report suspicious activities to the nearest NDLEA office, stressing that timely information remains key to tackling substance abuse in the state.