Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned Nigerians to beware of fraudsters impersonating its top officials to defraud unsuspecting members of the public through fake auction offers for forfeited vehicles.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA said criminal elements are circulating fake letters and messages, particularly in the name of the Agency’s Secretary, Barrister Shadrach Haruna, claiming to offer seized vehicles for sale at giveaway prices.
The Agency described the offers as fraudulent, stressing that no NDLEA official has the authority to privately sell, allocate, or offer forfeited vehicles or any other seized assets to individuals.
According to the statement, all assets forfeited as proceeds of drug-related crimes are disposed of only through transparent public auction processes conducted by government-approved auctioneers. Such exercises, the Agency noted, are always publicly advertised in national newspapers and communicated through its official platforms in line with legal and public procurement requirements.
The NDLEA urged Nigerians to disregard any private letters, text messages, or social media messages claiming to offer auctioned vehicles on behalf of Barrister Shadrach Haruna or any other official of the Agency.
The anti-narcotics agency reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in the disposal of forfeited assets and called on members of the public to report any suspicious auction offers to the nearest NDLEA command or through its official communication channels.
The statement emphasized that the fake auction scheme is a calculated attempt by fraudsters to swindle innocent Nigerians and advised the public to remain vigilant to avoid falling victim.