In a statement issued by the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has alerted the public to a concerning new scheme by scammers.
These impostors are impersonating NDLEA officers and contacting unsuspecting citizens, particularly those with loved ones abroad. The fraudulent calls inform individuals of the purported arrest of their relatives at various international airports, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
According to Babafemi, the scammers aim to induce panic among family members before demanding significant sums of money, often in the millions, to facilitate the release of the alleged detainees from NDLEA custody.
Instances of such deceitful attempts have been reported in the past, with scammers resorting to tactics like circulating images and audio recordings to further their ruse. Babafemi revealed that the NDLEA has recently investigated a case involving the circulation of a Nigerian man’s photo alongside an audio recording of a supposed NDLEA officer negotiating a hefty sum for the release of the individual allegedly arrested at the Lagos airport on March 22nd.
However, investigations have proven these claims to be unfounded. NDLEA asserts that no officer was involved in the purported conversation, and the individual in the circulated photo is not in NDLEA custody at the MMIA or any other command. Consequently, Babafemi warned families against falling victim to such scams and urged them not to part with their money.
NDLEA advises Nigerians with relatives abroad to exercise caution and refrain from discussing their travel plans openly to prevent criminal elements from exploiting such information for fraudulent purposes.
