The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a warning to the public, especially individuals with relatives residing abroad, regarding a new fraudulent scheme orchestrated by impostors posing as NDLEA officers.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, conveyed this information in a statement published on the agency’s website on Saturday.
The statement cautioned, “The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency wishes to alert members of the public, especially those with loved ones abroad, to a recent scheme by scammers who impersonate NDLEA officers. They contact unsuspecting citizens to falsely inform them of the arrest of their relatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja Lagos or any other international airport in Nigeria, alleging involvement in illicit drug trafficking upon arrival in the country.
“After inducing panic among family members, the scammers proceed to demand millions of naira to facilitate the release of the detained individuals from NDLEA custody. We have foiled several such attempts in the past when concerned family members reached out to the agency’s official contacts for assistance or clarification.
”Currently, we have investigated a specific incident. In this instance, the image of a Nigerian man residing in the US is circulating alongside an audio recording of an alleged NDLEA officer negotiating a payment of N5 million with a female relative for the release of the US-based Nigerian man, purportedly arrested at Lagos airport on Friday, March 22, upon arrival with contraband.
“Similar to previous cases, our investigation reveals that this recent incident is the handiwork of scammers. No NDLEA officer is involved in the audio conversation, and the individual depicted in the photo attached to the circulated audio recording is not in our custody at MMIA or any of our commands, either as of yesterday or any other day.
“We advise the family members involved in this case not to fall victim to these scammers. Nigerians with relatives abroad are urged to maintain confidentiality regarding their loved ones’ travel plans to prevent exploitation by criminal elements for fraudulent schemes.
“For individuals facing similar challenges, please do not hesitate to seek assistance or clarification through any of our contact channels.”
