Two honey trap gangs busted

Police say five cops among 16 arrested during major crackdown

RAWALPINDI:

In a major crackdown, Rawalpindi police dismantled two organised criminal networks involved in honey trap extortion schemes, arresting 16 individuals, including five serving police officers of the Rawalpindi police.

The first gang, led by Marina Khan—a Pakistani-origin woman holding Malawian citizenship—and her husband Bilal, used social media platforms to lure victims into compromising situations and blackmail them for money. Police arrested six members of this group and recovered Rs250,000 in cash along with weapons. The suspects confessed to multiple cases of blackmail and extortion.

The second group included five serving police personnel from Rawalpindi police, ranging in rank from constable to head constable. This 10-member gang, led by Aftab alias Tabi, was operating similar honey trap scams. The police arrested all members of the gang and recovered Rs500,000 in cash, weapons, and incriminating digital evidence. Two women, Hajra and Uzma, were also among those arrested. Hajra allegedly lured victims through a specific social media application and arranged meetings where victims were recorded and later blackmailed.

SSP Operations Rawalpindi, Kashif Zulfiqar, alongside SP Rawal, briefed the media on Tuesday, stating that the crackdown was part of the police's zero-tolerance policy against such crimes. "This disturbing trend involving women and police personnel is deeply concerning," said Zulfiqar. "We are taking strict departmental and legal action against the involved officers. They will face both judicial proceedings and dismissal from service."

He emphasised that the issue, once thought to be limited to the riverine Kacha regions, has now spread to urban areas like Rawalpindi and the twin cities. The arrests were carried out by Saddar, Baironi, and Sadiqabad police stations.