The Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (CCIA) in Pakistan arrested two men in Lahore for allegedly running an illegal website called ‘Mini NADRA’ and selling sensitive personal data belonging to Pakistani citizens.
Officials said about 3 terabytes of sensitive and personal data were recovered from the suspects, identified as Muhammad Arsalan and Ali Raza.
According to investigators, the two men had illegally obtained and were selling data relating to more than 10 million Pakistani citizens.
The information allegedly included SIM card ownership and registration records, call detail records (CDRs), SIM databases, live locations of individuals, family trees, and sensitive information relating to government institutions.
Officials said the suspects had set up the ‘Mini NADRA’ website to provide information linked to Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
They were also allegedly involved in accessing a dark web platform known as ‘Khoji’, which authorities say was used for the illegal buying and selling of sensitive data.
According to the NCCIA, two mobile phones were also seized from the suspects. The 3TB of digital data recovered during the operation has been sent to a laboratory for forensic analysis.
A case has been registered against the suspects under the Cybercrime Act, and further investigations are under way.
