The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued an alert of scammers posing as personnel of the agency to defraud unsuspecting individuals with claims of arrest of loved ones with drugs and demanding millions of naira as bail money.
The scammers, according to the agency, have been in the habit of targeting individuals living abroad by telling them their relations have been arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos or some other airport with drugs, and then demand for money to free such alleged arrested persons.
In a statement, the spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi,: “We have thwarted a number of such bids in the past when the family members called the agency’s official contacts for help or clarification.
“At the moment, there is one of such scenarios the agency has just investigated. In this case, the picture of a Nigerian man based in the United States is being circulated with an audio of a purported NDLEA officer negotiating the payment of N5m with a female relative for the release of the US-based Nigerian man purportedly arrested at the Lagos airport on Friday, March 22, upon his arrival with a ‘contraband’.”
The agency, however, warned that these are scammers and just like in previous instances have targeted family members living abroad. NDLEA, therefore, advised that relatives should learn to keep travel plans of their loved ones in wraps to avoid falling prey to such scammers.
“No NDLEA officer is involved in the audio conversation and the person whose photo is attached to the audio recording being circulated is not in our custody at MMIA or any of our Commands either as at yesterday or any other day.
“The family members involved in this case are advised not to part with their hard-earned money to scammers.”
The agency also advised those who may have a similar challenge to call and seek clarification through any of the contact lines; +2347064670026 and +2348033326327.
