The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested 10 suspects in separate operations in Lahore over online child sexual exploitation, blackmail, identity document forgery, payment card fraud and illegal online betting.
NCCIA Lahore Zone Additional Director Atif Ameer said one of the suspects targeted minors living abroad. He used a fake social media identity to contact the children, gain their trust and pressure them into producing objectionable content, which he then threatened to circulate online.
A laptop and a mobile phone were seized, and forensic examination is under way. Ameer said the agency used an artificial intelligence-based monitoring system for technical analysis and obtained a search warrant from the relevant court before the operation.
In a second case, three law students were arrested for allegedly using AI to create fake Canadian identity documents and passport photographs. Four mobile phones, four laptops and printed copies of fake Canadian passports were recovered. According to Ameer, the documents were used to open bank accounts in Canada and carry out online financial fraud.
In LDA City, Lahore, the agency arrested Wajid Ali Jafri and Aman Ali in a payment card fraud case. Five point-of-sale (POS) machines and four mobile phones were seized. A case has been registered, and efforts are continuing to arrest Najaf, who allegedly supplied the POS machines.
The agency also arrested four suspects in a raid in Bahria Town, Lahore, for links to an illegal online betting network. One computer, one laptop and six mobile phones were seized.
Ameer said the suspects used online betting games and special offers to cause financial losses to US citizens. The network owner, identified as Zaeem, remains at large, and investigators are analysing data recovered from the seized devices.
Yesterday, it was reported that NCCIA arrested 1,129 suspects and recovered Rs105.3 million for victims during the first month under Director General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi.
According to a performance report released by the agency, the NCCIA received 5,176 complaints from citizens during the period. Of these, 4,491 were registered as inquiries for investigation.
After the inquiries were completed, 272 cases were registered against suspects allegedly involved in cybercrime. The agency also carried out a nationwide crackdown, which led to the arrests. The recovered Rs105.3 million was returned to the victims.
DG Rizvi said the agency would work to ensure the digital protection of citizens. He added that the NCCIA would continue to strictly implement its zero-tolerance policy against cybercrime.
The figures were issued by the agency’s spokesperson as part of the one-month report.