The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a warning to the public regarding a new fraudulent scheme perpetrated by impersonators posing as NDLEA officers. In a statement released by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency alerted individuals, especially those with relatives abroad, about the scam.
According to the statement, the scammers impersonate NDLEA officers and contact unsuspecting citizens to inform them falsely about the arrest of their relatives at international airports in Nigeria, particularly the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. After causing panic among the family members, the scammers demand large sums of money, purportedly to facilitate the release of the arrested individuals from NDLEA custody.
The NDLEA emphasized that it has thwarted numerous attempts by scammers in the past when family members contacted the agency’s official channels for help or clarification. The agency cited a recent incident where a Nigerian man based in the US was falsely portrayed as being arrested at the Lagos airport with contraband. However, investigations revealed that the audio conversation circulating, allegedly between an NDLEA officer and a family member negotiating the release for N5 million, was fabricated.
The NDLEA clarified that no officer from the agency was involved in the audio conversation, and the individual depicted in the circulated photo is not in NDLEA custody at any of its commands, including the MMIA. The agency urged family members not to succumb to the demands of scammers and advised Nigerians with relatives abroad to keep their travel plans confidential to prevent such schemes.