NCCIA rescues 13-year-old Karachi girl in probe into suspected dark web network

What began as an online interaction allegedly drew a 13-year-old girl into the orbit of a suspected dark web network, where children were reportedly assigned tasks and paid to produce pornographic animated content. A timely intervention by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has now brought the case to light, raising concerns about the online exploitation of minors.

The agency rescued the girl during a crackdown in Karachi's Rabia City, uncovering what investigators suspect is a wider network involving child exploitation and the production of pornographic cartoons. The probe has also revealed suspected links to individuals in Germany and the United Kingdom, according to NCCIA officials.

Investigators are examining whether children were deliberately targeted, manipulated and paid to carry out tasks as part of the alleged operation. Officials have also launched a probe into the possible use of so-called “red rooms” on the dark web to assign tasks to minors.

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Speaking at a press conference, NCCIA Deputy Director Shehzad Akbar said the agency had acted on credible information about the suspected network. The girl’s father was informed, and the two devices used by the child were seized with his cooperation.

Akbar rejected suggestions that the initial task assigned to the girl involved killing a cat. He said, however, that the child was allegedly being subjected to psychological manipulation similar to tactics attributed to dark web groups operating internationally. Had the network not been exposed, the situation could have become more serious, he added.

The investigation is continuing to establish the role of suspected local handlers and identify other children who may have been targeted.

According to information shared by the officials, the wider case involves 42 suspects, including 12 juveniles. Investigators are examining evidence that children were allegedly paid to produce pornographic animated content, with some reportedly receiving around $100, described in the information provided as approximately Rs6,000.

The agency has seized 19 mobile phones from Pixel Craft, a company reportedly operating for around two years, five phones from Art Office and 17 from Art Design, which reportedly employed 17 people. Officials are investigating the companies’ possible links to the suspected network.

Akbar said a man identified as Fudan was allegedly operating the network. Preliminary findings also indicate that the companies provided logos, banners and other digital design services to foreign clients. Investigators are examining whether these businesses were connected to the alleged exploitation activities.

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The deputy director said the agency had previously detained a boy in Karachi who was allegedly searching online for ways to take revenge on another person. In a separate case, the NCCIA arrested a suspect identified as Hamza on Thursday over alleged anti-state propaganda. Officials said the allegations were being investigated further.

Cybercrime crackdown

Akbar said the agency had recovered 39 accounts on WhatsApp, Instagram and other social media platforms over the past 15 days. It had also blocked 95 accounts allegedly linked to financial fraud and taken action against 38 accounts suspected of harassing women through fake identities.

The agency is pursuing cases involving the hacking of social media accounts, online financial fraud and harassment through fabricated identities. It has also received numerous complaints about the hacking of WhatsApp Business accounts.

Investigators are separately examining allegations that individuals have been operating social media accounts under women’s names and using fabricated identities to harass others.

The NCCIA said investigations into the suspected child exploitation network and other cybercrime cases were underway.