Seventy-six of 284 foreign nationals arrested during a crackdown on an alleged online cybercrime and sextortion ring in Islamabad are set to be deported, it emerged on Wednesday.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) detained the suspects during raids at a private housing society in the capital.
Pakistan Turned an Islamabad Tower Into a Jail After Arresting 372 Foreigners
Pakistan arrested 372 foreign nationals at Sparco Plaza in Islamabad, then briefly designated the entire 13-story building a sub-jail because there were too many detainees to move at once.
The cases… pic.twitter.com/l55aXonVhm
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According to reports, the foreigners, mostly nationals of China, Vietnam and Indonesia, along with some Malaysian citizens, were allegedly involved in unauthorized call centres and online financial scams.
The suspects had entered Pakistan on tourist, visit or business visas but allegedly violated the terms of their stay by operating illegal activities.
Reports said the Ministry of Interior cancelled the visas of the arrested foreigners a day before their transfer. Special permits were subsequently issued to facilitate their movement to Adiala Jail.
Authorities also revoked the temporary sub-jail designation previously granted to the plaza where the raid was conducted. The detainees were transferred to Adiala Jail, where they will remain ahead of the 15-day window for their repatriation.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports is preparing to place all deported individuals on the blacklist and Foreigners Control List, restricting their future entry into Pakistan.
Further investigations into the alleged cybercrime and sextortion network are underway.
