The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned Nigerians to be wary of fraudsters circulating fake offers for the sale of vehicles allegedly forfeited to the agency, describing the scheme as a deliberate attempt to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The anti-drug agency said criminals are impersonating its senior officials and using forged letters and messages to convince people that they can purchase seized vehicles at heavily discounted prices.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said the fraudsters have specifically been using the name of the Secretary to the Agency, Mr Shadrach Haruna, to give credibility to the fake offers.
According to him, the criminals have been circulating forged documents, text messages and other communications claiming that the NDLEA is secretly selling vehicles forfeited by convicted drug traffickers and other offenders.
Babafemi stressed that the claims are completely false and should be ignored by members of the public.
He described the fake auction notices as a carefully planned scam aimed solely at collecting money from unsuspecting Nigerians.
“The public is hereby notified that these offers are a complete scam,” he said.
“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 NDLEA spokesman said no official of the agency has the authority to privately allocate, sell or offer forfeited vehicles or any other assets recovered in the course of its operations.
He explained that every asset forfeited to the Federal Government through court orders follows a clearly defined legal process before it can be disposed of.
According to Babafemi, the disposal of forfeited vehicles and other assets is carried out only through transparent public auction exercises handled by duly appointed and government-approved auctioneers.
“All vehicles and assets forfeited as proceeds of drug-related crimes are disposed of only through transparent public auction processes conducted by duly appointed and government-registered auctioneers,” he stated.
He further explained that whenever the NDLEA plans to conduct an auction, the exercise is publicly announced to ensure transparency and equal opportunity for interested buyers.
Babafemi said legitimate auction exercises are advertised in national newspapers and publicised through the agency’s official communication channels in line with existing laws and government procurement guidelines.
He advised Nigerians to be suspicious of any individual claiming to have access to special allocations of forfeited vehicles or offering to facilitate private purchases through senior officials of the agency.
According to him, such claims are fraudulent because the NDLEA does not conduct secret sales or private allocations of seized assets.
The spokesman urged members of the public to ignore letters, text messages, WhatsApp messages and social media posts claiming to originate from Mr Haruna or any other NDLEA official offering forfeited vehicles or assets for sale.
He also appealed to Nigerians to verify any information relating to government auctions through official channels before making payments or releasing personal information.
Babafemi reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity in all its operations.
He assured Nigerians that the NDLEA remains focused on carrying out its statutory responsibilities while protecting members of the public from fraudsters seeking to exploit the agency’s name.
The spokesman advised anyone approached with such fake offers to report the matter immediately to the nearest NDLEA command or through the agency’s official communication channels.
He said prompt reporting would assist security agencies in identifying and arresting those behind the fraudulent scheme.
In recent years, criminals have increasingly exploited the names of government agencies and senior public officials to carry out various forms of fraud.
Many of these scams involve fake employment offers, fraudulent contract awards, counterfeit recruitment exercises, false scholarship opportunities and bogus auction sales.
Victims are often asked to make advance payments described as processing fees, registration charges or documentation costs before they can supposedly benefit from the offers.
The NDLEA’s latest warning comes amid growing concerns over the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals and fraud syndicates who use forged documents, fake websites and cloned social media accounts to deceive their victims.
The agency said members of the public should always rely on information published through its verified communication platforms and avoid dealing with individuals claiming to represent the organisation without proper authorisation.
The NDLEA plays a leading role in Nigeria’s fight against illicit drugs, drug trafficking and related financial crimes.
As part of its enforcement activities, the agency regularly seizes vehicles, buildings, cash and other properties linked to drug offences.
Where courts order the final forfeiture of such assets to the Federal Government, they are disposed of in accordance with the law, with the proceeds paid into government accounts.
The agency noted that this legal process is designed to ensure openness, accountability and public confidence in the management of forfeited assets.
It reiterated that there is no shortcut or special arrangement for acquiring such assets outside officially announced public auctions.
The NDLEA therefore urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to fraudsters who exploit the names of government institutions to steal from innocent citizens.