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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

NDLEA warns public against fake vehicle auction scams

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned the public about fraudulent offers selling forfeited vehicles at low prices.
  • Criminals are impersonating senior NDLEA officials, using their names to circulate fake auction notices.
  • The agency stressed that all forfeited assets are sold through transparent public auctions and urged the public to report suspicious offers.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a stern warning to the public regarding a sophisticated scam involving fake offers for forfeited vehicles. Criminals are reportedly impersonating senior agency officials, including the Secretary to the Agency, Mr. Shadrach Haruna, to lend credibility to their fraudulent schemes.

All vehicles and assets forfeited as proceeds of drug-related crimes are disposed of only through transparent public auction processes conducted by duly appointed and government-registered auctioneers.

— Femi BabafemiThe NDLEA spokesperson explained the official procedure for selling seized assets.

These fraudsters are circulating deceptive letters and messages, claiming to offer vehicles seized by the NDLEA for auction at significantly reduced prices. The agency has unequivocally described these offers as a "complete scam" and a "malicious gimmick" designed solely to defraud unsuspecting individuals of their money.

Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy for the NDLEA, emphasized that no agency official possesses the authority to privately sell or allocate any forfeited vehicles or assets. He clarified that all such disposals are conducted exclusively through transparent public auction processes managed by government-registered auctioneers.

The public is hereby notified that these offers are a complete scam.

— NDLEAThe agency directly addressed the fraudulent offers circulating to the public.

Legitimate auctions by the NDLEA will be widely advertised in national newspapers and announced through the agency's official communication channels, adhering to legal provisions and public procurement guidelines. The NDLEA urges anyone approached with such fraudulent offers to disregard them and report the matter immediately to the nearest NDLEA command or through the agency's official channels. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and integrity in all its operations.

The agency wishes to categorically state that these fraudulent offers are a malicious gimmick designed solely to defraud targeted individuals of their hard-earned money.

— NDLEAThe agency described the intent behind the fake auction schemes.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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