NCCIA Lahore Dismantles Organised Network Involved in Illegal Sale of Sensitive Telecom Data

By Farzana Chaudhry | Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Lahore has dismantled an organised network allegedly involved in the illegal acquisition, possession, and commercial sale of highly sensitive telecommunications subscriber data, arresting three suspects during a targeted operation.

According to investigators, the group was unlawfully accessing and trading confidential information, including Call Detail Records (CDRs), SIM ownership details, subscriber registration records, family registration data, location information, and other protected telecommunications records. Authorities stated that the group’s activities posed a serious threat to citizens’ privacy, digital security, and public trust.

The operation was carried out on the special directions of Mr. Muhammad Ali Waseem, Director Operations Punjab, NCCIA, following a complaint lodged by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Lahore. Consequently, FIR No. 146/2026, dated July 9, 2026, was registered under Sections 3, 6, 13, 14, 16, and 17 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 (Amended 2025), read with Sections 419, 420, 468, and 471 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

During the investigation, NCCIA Lahore arrested three suspects identified as Muhammad Saghar, Muhammad Ishfaq, and Malik Sadam. Preliminary findings suggest that the accused were part of an organised cyber-enabled criminal network engaged in the unauthorised retrieval, possession, marketing, and sale of confidential subscriber information without lawful authority or the knowledge and consent of the concerned individuals.

During the raid, investigators recovered 14 mobile phones, one laptop, one tablet, 38 SIM cards, 10 internet devices, nine Biometric Verification System (BVS) devices, seven fingerprint scanners, three Bluetooth fingerprint scanners, three card readers, 11 memory cards, nine USB storage devices, eight hard disks and RAM modules, and 60 hard copies of fingerprint records. All recovered digital evidence has been taken into custody for forensic examination.

Mr. Muhammad Ali Waseem, Director Operations Punjab, reaffirmed that NCCIA remains committed to protecting citizens’ personal data and combating cyber-enabled crimes. He stated that strict legal action would continue against individuals involved in the illegal collection, misuse, and commercial trafficking of confidential information, while further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend other members of the network.