LAHORE – The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Lahore Zone, has arrested 281 suspects, including 21 foreign nationals and 20 women, during operations against seven illegal call centres allegedly involved in financial fraud, online harassment and honey-trapping.
NCCIA Lahore Zone Additional Director Atif Ameer disclosed this while addressing a press conference here on Friday. He said the agency had intensified its crackdown on cybercrime over the past week and would not allow illegal call centres to operate in Lahore.
He said the arrested suspects included 260 Pakistanis and 21 foreign nationals, comprising 12 Chinese, five Filipinos, two Vietnamese, one Malaysian and one Nepalese citizen.
During the operations, the NCCIA recovered 362 mobile phones, 191 computer systems, 74 laptops, 127 other digital devices and 550 SIM cards. The seized equipment has been sent for forensic examination, he added.
Atif Ameer said the call centres were allegedly involved in financial fraud, online harassment and honey-trapping. He added that action against foreign nationals involved in cybercrime would also continue.
Action against child exploitation
Highlighting action against online offences involving children, Ameer said the NCCIA had arrested three suspects in child pornography cases during the preceding week.
He said Hassan Akram was arrested for allegedly sharing objectionable material involving children, Muhammad Faizan Ahmad for allegedly uploading such material, and Ammar for allegedly sharing it through WhatsApp groups.
He said the agency was working with artificial intelligence (AI) institutions to strengthen its ability to detect and investigate online offences involving children. Agreements had been signed with international AI institutions, while AI-assisted analysis helped identify a suspect in Gujranwala, leading to his arrest.
Online harassment and blackmailing
Ameer said the NCCIA was also pursuing cases involving online harassment, blackmailing and the circulation of private photographs and videos.
He said Safdar Hussain had been arrested for allegedly luring women on the promise of marriage and making objectionable material. In another case, a suspect identified as Zaheer allegedly used a woman’s private photographs found on a stolen mobile phone to blackmail her and extort money.
He also confirmed the arrest of another suspect from Farooqabad, Sheikhupura, on Thursday night.
Rs19.2 million recovered in financial fraud cases
Regarding financial fraud, Ameer said the agency was investigating fraudulent transactions involving JazzCash, Easypaisa and bank accounts.
He said the NCCIA had recovered Rs19,246,240 in five financial fraud cases and 10 inquiries.
The additional director said digital devices seized in cybercrime cases were undergoing forensic examination to collect evidence and establish the facts.
Mohammad Rizwan’s phone submitted for examination
Responding to a question about cricketer Mohammad Rizwan, Ameer said the purpose of calling him was to obtain his mobile phone for forensic examination.
He said Rizwan had handed over his phone and the relevant facts would emerge after the examination was completed.
Anti-money laundering and public facilitation
Ameer said the NCCIA had also been assigned responsibilities relating to anti-money laundering, while its operational resources were being strengthened to address emerging cyber threats.
Explaining the procedure for registering first information reports (FIRs), he said the agency first completed an inquiry and obtained approval from the relevant committee before formally registering a case. The process could therefore take time, he added.
To facilitate citizens, the NCCIA Lahore Zone had introduced an open-court initiative three days a week, providing people with an opportunity to present their complaints.
Ameer said the agency would continue legal action without discrimination against those involved in cybercrime, financial fraud, child pornography, online harassment and other unlawful digital activities.
