The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has alerted members of the public to a fraudulent scheme perpetrated by criminal elements and scammers who impersonate top officials of the Agency to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the Agency said the fraudsters have been using the names of senior NDLEA officials, particularly the Secretary to the Agency, Barrister Shadrach Haruna, to circulate fake private letters and messages offering forfeited vehicles for sale at low prices.
According to the statement, the purported auction offers are entirely fraudulent and do not originate from the Agency.
“The public is hereby notified that these offers are a complete scam. The Agency wishes to categorically state that these fraudulent offers are a malicious gimmick designed solely to defraud targeted individuals of their hard-earned money.”
The Agency stressed that no official of the NDLEA has the authority to privately offer, allocate or sell forfeited vehicles or any other seized assets to individuals.
It explained that all vehicles and assets forfeited as proceeds of drug-related crimes are disposed of only through public auction processes conducted by appointed, government-registered auctioneers.
According to the statement, any legitimate auction exercise is widely publicised in national newspapers and through the Agency’s official communication channels in line with established legal and public procurement guidelines.
The NDLEA therefore urged members of the public to disregard and report any private letters, text messages or social media messages claiming to originate from Barrister Shadrach Haruna or any other official of the Agency offering forfeited vehicles or other assets for sale.
“Members of the public are strongly urged to discountenance, ignore, and report any such private letters, text messages, or social media offers claiming to originate from Barrister Shadrach Haruna or any other NDLEA official.”
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability, the Agency cautioned Nigerians against falling victim to the fraudsters.
“The NDLEA remains committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in all its operations. Do not fall victim to these criminal elements. If you are approached with such fraudulent offers, please report immediately to the nearest NDLEA command or via our official communication channels.”