NCCIA busts international child abuse ring in Lahore

Operations based on intelligence from Australian police, Interpol, and other international partners

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency Islamabad, in collaboration with Australian police, Interpol, and other international agencies, has achieved a major breakthrough in its investigation into child exploitation crimes, successfully dismantling an international network involved in the production and distribution of child abuse materials.

According to officials, the agency arrested a key suspect and formally filed charges following joint operations codenamed “Roads” and “Iceberg.” These operations were based on intelligence and reports shared by Australian police, Interpol, and other international partners, leading to the identification of multiple suspects and criminal groups.

The investigation uncovered two major networks — “Rainbow” and “Maylovedoli Con” — that were distributing illegal content through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

Also Read: Punjab to penalise college students for exam absences

The central suspect, Asim Muhammad Qasim, was arrested after evidence was recovered from his possession, including mobile data, social media accounts, and hard drives containing videos and images related to the exploitation of underage girls.

Initial investigations revealed that Qasim was involved in both the creation and global distribution of child exploitation content. Authorities also traced his connections to international contacts identified as “Sassi” from Brazil and “Twinkle” from Portugal.

The NCCIA has registered a case against Qasim under Sections 21, 22A, and 22B of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and Section 377 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Inspector Iqram Muqaddas is leading the investigation, which remains ongoing to identify additional suspects and locate victims of this crime.

Also Read: Violators to face fines up to Rs1m as Punjab plans Basant revival after 28 years

In a separate case, the NCCIA also arrested Syed Mather Abbas, a resident of Khanwal village in Shakargarh, Narowal, for cyber harassment and the distribution of immoral content.

According to officials, Abbas gained unauthorised access to the Gmail account of Ali Hamza and impersonated his Snapchat profile to spread obscene materials. He also manipulated images of the victim’s family and posted them online, using WhatsApp to blackmail the victim and demand money.

During the investigation, authorities discovered multiple WhatsApp accounts linked to Abbas, which contained inappropriate messages and images sent to the victim and family members. Forensic analysis of his mobile phone further uncovered child pornography content.

Officials confirmed that investigations into both cases are ongoing, and further arrests and recoveries are expected as authorities expand their efforts to dismantle associated cybercrime networks.