Scammers Impersonating Our Officials to Sell Fake Auction Vehicles — NDLEA Warns Nigerians

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned Nigerians to be vigilant against fraudsters impersonating senior officials of the agency to promote fake auction sales of forfeited vehicles.

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

According to the agency, the scammers have been circulating forged letters, messages and other communications in the names of top NDLEA officials, particularly the Secretary to the Agency, Shadrach Haruna, claiming to offer forfeited vehicles for sale at discounted prices.

The NDLEA described the offers as fraudulent and urged members of the public not to fall victim to the scheme.

It stressed that no official of the agency has the authority to privately allocate, sell or dispose of forfeited vehicles or any other assets seized during its operations.

The agency explained that all vehicles and other assets forfeited as proceeds of drug-related crimes are disposed of strictly through public auction conducted by government-approved auctioneers.

It added that legitimate auctions are always announced publicly through national newspapers and the agency’s official communication platforms in line with legal provisions and public procurement guidelines.

The NDLEA warned Nigerians to disregard any private letters, text messages, emails or social media posts claiming to offer auctioned vehicles on behalf of the agency or any of its officials.

It also advised members of the public to verify any information relating to asset disposal through the agency’s official channels before taking any action.

According to the statement, anyone approached with such fraudulent offers should immediately report the incident to the nearest NDLEA command or contact the agency through its official communication platforms.

The anti-drug agency reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and due process in the disposal of forfeited assets.

It further assured Nigerians that every legitimate auction carried out by the agency follows established legal procedures and is publicly advertised to ensure fairness and openness.

The NDLEA urged the public to remain cautious and avoid making payments or entering into transactions with individuals claiming to sell forfeited vehicles outside officially announced auction processes.