The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has alerted Nigerians to a fraudulent scheme in which scammers are impersonating senior officials of the agency to deceive unsuspecting members of the public with fake offers of forfeited vehicles purportedly being sold at discounted prices.
The agency said the fraudsters have been circulating fake private letters, text messages, and social media messages in the names of top NDLEA officials, particularly the Secretary to the Agency, Barrister Shadrach Haruna, claiming to facilitate the sale of forfeited vehicles through special arrangements.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA described the offers as a complete scam designed to swindle unsuspecting Nigerians of their hard-earned money.
According to the agency, no official of the NDLEA is authorised to privately allocate, offer, or sell forfeited vehicles or any other assets seized in the course of its operations.
“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 statement read.
The NDLEA explained that vehicles and other assets forfeited as proceeds of drug-related crimes are disposed of strictly through public auction processes conducted by duly appointed, government-registered auctioneers.
It added that any legitimate auction exercise is publicly advertised in national newspapers and on the agency’s official communication platforms in compliance with extant laws and public procurement guidelines.
The anti-narcotics agency, therefore, urged Nigerians to disregard any private letters, messages, or social media posts claiming to originate from Barrister Haruna or any other NDLEA official offering forfeited vehicles or other assets for sale.
It also advised members of the public who receive such offers to report them immediately to the nearest NDLEA command or through the agency’s official communication channels.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability, the agency assured Nigerians that all its disposal processes remain open, lawful, and subject to due process.
It further warned members of the public to remain vigilant against criminals exploiting the agency’s name and that of its officials to perpetrate fraud, stressing that only officially announced public auctions should be considered genuine.