New details have emerged regarding the alleged involvement of 138 foreign nationals arrested in Islamabad in cybercrime and other unlawful activities.
According to sources, the foreign nationals had registered a company with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) for an IT-related business. However, investigators allege that the company’s registration was used as a cover for activities unrelated to its stated business purpose.
The case details state that the suspects were allegedly involved in producing and selling explicit content online, along with other cyber-related offences. Authorities are continuing to investigate the nature and extent of the alleged activities.
During the operation, law enforcement officials claimed to have recovered digital evidence and other items allegedly linked to foreign law-enforcement agencies from the suspects’ possession.
Sources said uniforms and official stamps purportedly belonging to a Vietnamese law-enforcement agency were also recovered during the raid. The items have been taken into custody and included in the ongoing investigation as authorities seek to determine their purpose and connection to the suspects.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has registered a fresh case against all 138 foreign nationals, while further questioning and investigation are underway.
Investigators are examining the seized digital material, documents and other equipment to determine the alleged activities of the suspects and identify any wider network or links that may be involved.
Authorities are expected to establish further details as the forensic examination of the recovered evidence progresses.
