The FIA has registered 21 cases
The Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) has launched a nationwide crackdown on criminals using foreign mobile SIM cards for illegal activities.
They arrested 44 suspects from multiple cities across Pakistan.
The operation, spearheaded by the Cyber Crime Wing, aims to curb financial fraud, ransom cases, child exploitation, and terrorism.
These crimes are often linked to unregistered international SIMs.
A press conference was recently held in Islamabad, attended by Additional Director General Waqaruddin Syed.
He revealed that British pre-activated SIM cards were the most commonly used among cybercriminals in Pakistan.
He stated that these SIMs were easily accessible through online platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, often sold via cash-on-delivery services.
During the raids conducted in cities including Multan, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Sukkur, and Abbottabad, the FIA recovered 8,363 British SIM cards.
Syed emphasised that criminals use these SIMs to hide their identities, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace their activities.
The FIA has registered 21 cases related to the illegal trade of these SIMs.
Individuals who were arrested are being prosecuted under the cybercrimes law.
The crackdown is part of a broader effort to dismantle networks facilitating cybercrime in Pakistan.
Syed warned that the misuse of international SIMs is a punishable offence, urging social media companies to maintain user data for these numbers.
He reiterated that strict action would be taken against those linked to such criminal activities.
The FIA’s efforts are supported by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which has also intensified its crackdown.
PTA’s Zonal Offices in Sukkur and Faisalabad, in collaboration with the FIA, conducted targeted raids.
They particularly raided shops that were involved in the sale of pre-activated international and local SIMs.
In Sukkur, a raid at Clock Tower led to the confiscation of two international SIMs and five Jazz SIM cards. It resulted in the arrest of the shop owner.
In Faisalabad, authorities conducted three separate raids, leading to the detention of two individuals involved in the illegal SIM trade.
The seized SIMs have been sent for further investigation, and cases have been registered against the suspects.
While authorities continue their efforts, the rise in the sale of illegal foreign SIMs is also linked to increased PTA taxation on mobile phones.
Many users resort to foreign SIMs to bypass the high tax rates imposed on smartphone network usage.
To curb this, Pakistan Customs has made it mandatory for travellers carrying new smartphones to pay PTA tax at the airport.
The Pakistani government also plans to raise the issue with British authorities, seeking cooperation in curbing the illegal trade of pre-activated SIMs.
Loading ...