The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) recently arrested a woman in Lahore. She ran an illegal digital operation. Specifically, she acquired activated and stolen SIM cards through unlawful channels. She used these SIMs to bypass verification and create fake WhatsApp accounts. Afterward, she sold these verified accounts to various buyers across the country.
The NCCIA conducted the arrest after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) filed a formal complaint. Authorities identified the suspect as Safia Afzal, a resident of Sahiwal. However, she did not act alone. According to NCCIA investigation officer Umme Salma, Safia is part of a much larger, organized network. This group actively exploits digital identities. Consequently, officials are currently working to identify and apprehend other facilitators linked to the operation.
During the raid, agency personnel secured crucial evidence. They seized exactly 310 active SIM cards belonging to various telecommunication companies. Additionally, they confiscated a mobile phone directly from the suspect. Now, the NCCIA has taken all the digital material into custody. They have sent the devices for a comprehensive forensic review.
Technical analysis will help authorities understand the true scale of this illegal network. Furthermore, forensics will trace illicit financial transactions, analyze digital activities, and expose additional individuals involved in the scheme. Finally, authorities have officially registered a case against Safia. She faces charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, which was recently amended in 2025, alongside other applicable legal provisions.
