NDLEA warns against fake vehicle auction offers

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has warned members of the public to disregard fraudulent offers purportedly advertising forfeited vehicles for sale at cheap prices.

The agency, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the scam was being perpetrated by criminals impersonating senior officials of the agency.

Babafemi said the fraudsters were using the names of top NDLEA officials, particularly the Secretary to the Agency, Mr Shadrach Haruna, to circulate fake letters and messages offering vehicles allegedly forfeited to the agency for auction.

He described the offers as a complete scam, stressing that they were a malicious ploy designed solely to defraud unsuspecting members of the public of their hard-earned money.

He emphasised that no official of the NDLEA had the authority to privately offer, allocate or sell forfeited vehicles or any other assets seized by the agency.

“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 said.

Babafemi added that any legitimate auction exercise by the agency would be widely advertised in national newspapers.

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He said it would also be announced through the NDLEA’s official communication channels in compliance with extant legal provisions and public procurement guidelines.

Babafemi urged members of the public to ignore and report any private letters, text messages or social media posts claiming to originate from Haruna or any other NDLEA official offering forfeited vehicles or other assets for sale.

“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,” he said.

The NDLEA spokesman reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to transparency and integrity in all its operations and advised members of the public not to fall victim to the activities of the fraudsters.

He urged anyone approached with such fraudulent offers to report the matter immediately to the nearest NDLEA command or through the agency’s official communication channels.