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.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, who said the discovery followed a targeted operation tagged “Operation Sharar Mafaka,” aimed at dismantling illicit drug activities across the state.
According to the statement, the operation was carried out on May 4 after credible intelligence and sustained surveillance by NDLEA operatives. The team stormed the Rimin Kebe enclave and confirmed the existence of multiple caves constructed and adapted as living and trading spaces by suspected drug dealers.
The NDLEA Commander in Kano, Dahiru Yahaya-Lawal, said the caves were equipped with household items such as mats, pillows, food flasks, plates, and cutlery, indicating that they were regularly occupied and used for organised drug operations.
He added that some of the tunnels appeared to be under construction and could serve as underground links between different hideouts, suggesting a coordinated network.
Yahaya-Lawal said several of the caves and tunnels had already been dismantled, while plans were underway to demolish and secure the remaining structures to prevent further use.
He stressed that the operation is part of intensified efforts by the agency to rid Kano State of illicit drug use and trafficking, warning those involved to desist or face the full weight of the law.
The commander also noted that the crackdown aligns with directives from NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba-Marwa, to dismantle drug networks nationwide.
He urged members of the public to support the agency by reporting suspicious activities, emphasizing that timely information is key to curbing substance abuse and illegal drug trade in the state.
