Representational image of people wearing balaclavas are silhouetted as they pose with a laptops in front of a screen projected with the word ‘cyber crime’ and binary code, in this picture illustration. — Reuters/FileLAHORE: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, while addressing a press conference here on Monday, said the agency had arrested a suspect involved in the online sexual exploitation and blackmail of minors living abroad.The suspect allegedly used a fake identity on social media 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.The additional director said the agency used an AI-based monitoring system to conduct technical analysis and obtained a search warrant from the relevant court before carrying out the operation. Forensic examination of the seized devices was under way.In another operation, three law students were arrested for allegedly using AI to create fake Canadian identity documents and passport photographs. Four mobile phones, four laptops and printed copies of fake Canadian passports were recovered. Preliminary investigations suggested that the documents were being used to facilitate the opening of bank accounts in Canada and online financial fraud.In a separate operation in LDA City, Lahore, two suspects, identified as Wajid Ali Jafri and Aman Ali, were arrested in a payment card fraud case. Five point-of-sale (POS) machines and four mobile phones were seized. An FIR No. 243/2026 had been registered in the case, while efforts were under way to arrest another suspect, Najaf, who was allegedly involved in supplying the POS machines.Atif Ameer said the agency had also arrested four suspects during a raid in Bahria Town, Lahore, for their alleged links with 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 special offers to cause financial losses to US citizens. The alleged network owner, identified as Zaeem, was still at large, while investigators were analysing data recovered from the seized digital devices. An FIR No. 250/2026 had been registered under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, and the Pakistan Penal Code.NCCIA Additional Director 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 involved in such offences would continue in accordance with the law.
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