The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has alerted the public to a fraudulent scheme in which scammers are impersonating senior officials of the agency to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians with fake vehicle auction offers.
In a statement issued on Friday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA said the fraudsters were using the name of the agency’s Secretary, Shadrach Haruna, to circulate fake letters and messages offering forfeited vehicles for sale at discounted prices.
The agency described the offers as a scam, warning that no official of the NDLEA has the authority to privately sell, allocate or offer forfeited vehicles or any other seized assets to individuals.
According to the statement, all vehicles and other assets forfeited as proceeds of drug-related crimes are disposed of only through public auction processes conducted by government-approved auctioneers.
The NDLEA explained that legitimate auction exercises are always publicly advertised in national newspapers and announced through its official communication channels in line with legal and public procurement procedures.
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It urged the public to disregard any private letters, text messages or social media posts claiming to offer forfeited vehicles on behalf of Barrister Haruna or any other NDLEA official.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and integrity in its operations and advised anyone approached with such fraudulent offers to report the matter to the nearest NDLEA command or through the agency’s official communication channels.
Babafemi urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to the activities of fraudsters exploiting the agency’s name for personal gain.
