The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is warning Nigerians and their loved ones abroad about a new scheme by scammers who impersonate NDLEA officers and call unsuspecting citizens to inform them of the arrest of their relatives.
The NDLEA statement said the scammers would call the unsuspecting Nigerians that their relatives were arrested at an international airport in Nigeria with illicit drugs upon arrival in the country.
After throwing the family members into panic, the scammers then demand millions of naira to facilitate the release of such persons from NDLEA custody.
The statement signed by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the agency has thwarted several 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 such scenario the agency has just investigated,” he said.
“In this case, the picture of a Nigerian man based in the US is being circulated with audio of a purported NDLEA officer negotiating the payment of N5 million with a female relative for the release of the US-based Nigerian man purportedly arrested at the Lagos airport on Friday 22nd March upon his arrival with a ‘contraband,’ just like in previous instances.”
The NDLEA spokesman said the agency investigation revealed scammers are behind the incident.
He said no NDLEA officer was involved in the audio conversation, and the person whose photo was attached to the audio recording was never in the agency’s custody.
The family members involved in this case are advised not to part with their hard-earned money to scammers.
The anti-narcotic agency warned Nigerians with loved ones abroad to keep discussions on their relatives’ travel plans to themselves to avoid the hijacking of such by criminal elements.
Femi BabaFemi urged those who may have a similar challenge to call +234 706 467 0026 and +234 803 3326327 for clarification.
