NDLEA Issues Warning About New Scam Targeting Public
By Ayshatu S. Rabo
In an official statement signed by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a warning to the public, particularly those with family members abroad, regarding a new scam perpetrated by impostors posing as NDLEA officers.
These scammers contact unsuspecting individuals to inform them falsely about the arrest of their relatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos or other international airports in Nigeria for drug-related offences.
The modus operandi of these scammers involves inducing panic among family members by claiming that their loved ones have been apprehended with illicit drugs upon arrival in the country. Subsequently, the scammers demand exorbitant sums of money, often in the millions of naira, to facilitate the release of the supposed detainees from NDLEA custody.
“We have foiled numerous attempts by scammers in the past, as vigilant family members reached out to the Agency’s official contacts for assistance or clarification.”
In a recent incident under investigation, scammers circulated a photograph of a Nigerian man based in the US, accompanied by an audio recording of a purported NDLEA officer negotiating a payment of N5 million with a female relative for the release of the US-based Nigerian man allegedly arrested at the Lagos airport. However, investigations by the NDLEA revealed that the incident was yet another fraudulent scheme.
The NDLEA clarifies that no authentic NDLEA officer was involved in the audio conversation, and the individual depicted in the circulated photograph is not in NDLEA custody at the MMIA or any other NDLEA command.
“We advise family members not to fall victim to these scams and refrain from transferring money to fraudsters. Also, Nigerians with relatives abroad should keep details of their travel plans confidential to prevent criminal elements from exploiting such information for illicit purposes.”
NDLEA Issues Warning About New Scam Targeting Public