NCCIA arrests child exploitation suspect, busts Rs20m online fraud gang

Suspect linked to circulating child abuse videos, while two fraudsters were found impersonating army officers

RAWALPINDI:

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) carried out two major operations in the twin cities, arresting a suspect accused of exploiting children and dismantling a gang behind Rs20 million in online fraud, officials said on Sunday.

In the first case, the NCCIA conducted a raid at a residence in Islamabad’s PWD area and arrested a suspect identified as Shoaib for allegedly circulating obscene videos of a minor.

Two mobile phones were recovered from his possession, which, according to authorities, contained additional videos involving children.

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A case has been registered against the suspect under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), while further investigations are under way.

Officials said the seized mobile phones have been sent to a forensic laboratory for detailed examination, adding that more information is expected to emerge from the analysis.

In a separate operation, the NCCIA Islamabad apprehended members of a gang accused of defrauding citizens of Rs20 million by impersonating army officers in Rawalpindi.

The suspects, identified as Muhammad Qasim and Muhammad Faraz, allegedly used fake military identities on WhatsApp to collect money from victims.

Authorities said raids were carried out in Alipur and Jatoi under the supervision of Sub-Inspector Babar Ali, leading to the exposure of what they described as a cross-district fraud network.

Investigations are ongoing, and further details are expected to surface as the inquiry progresses.