By Muhammad Shahzad | Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Lahore Zone, has arrested 10 suspects in four separate operations targeting online child sexual exploitation and blackmail, fake Canadian identity documents, payment card fraud and illegal online betting.

NCCIA Lahore Zone Additional Director Atif Ameer disclosed the details while addressing a press conference here on Monday, saying the operations were part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat cybercrime and protect the public from digital exploitation and financial fraud.

In the first operation, the agency arrested a suspect allegedly involved in the online sexual exploitation and blackmail of minors living abroad.

According to officials, the suspect allegedly used a fake social media identity to contact underage children, gain their trust and coerce them into producing objectionable content before threatening to circulate it online. A laptop and a mobile phone were seized for forensic examination.

Atif Ameer said the agency used an artificial intelligence (AI)-based monitoring system for technical analysis and obtained a search warrant from the relevant court before conducting the operation. Forensic examination of the seized devices was under way.

In a second operation, three law students were arrested for allegedly using AI to create fake Canadian identity documents and passport photographs. Investigators recovered four mobile phones, four laptops and printed copies of purportedly fake Canadian passports.

Preliminary investigations suggested that the documents were allegedly being used to facilitate the opening of bank accounts in Canada and carry out online financial fraud.

In another operation in LDA City, Lahore, two suspects, identified as Wajid Ali Jafri and Aman Ali, were arrested in connection with an alleged payment card fraud case. Five point-of-sale (POS) machines and four mobile phones were seized.

An FIR (No. 243/2026) has been registered in the case, while efforts are under way to arrest another suspect, identified as Najaf, who was allegedly involved in supplying the POS machines.

In the fourth operation, NCCIA officials arrested four suspects during a raid in Bahria Town, Lahore, for their alleged links to an illegal online betting network. One computer, one laptop and six mobile phones were seized for further examination.

According to preliminary investigations, the suspects allegedly used online betting games and promotional offers to cause financial losses to US citizens. The alleged network owner, identified as Zaeem, remained at large, while investigators continued analysing data recovered from the seized digital devices.

An FIR (No. 250/2026) has been registered under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, and the Pakistan Penal Code.

Atif Ameer said protecting children from online exploitation and blackmail, preventing cybercrime and taking action against those involved in financial fraud were among the agency’s key priorities.

He added that operations against individuals suspected of involvement in such offences would continue in accordance with the law.