About a week after reports emerged of a disturbing child pornography ring operating in a remote village of Muzaffargarh, senior officials from the National Cybercrime Investigation Authority (NCCIA) and the Minister of State for Interior held a press conference in Islamabad to reveal how the network was uncovered and dismantled.
Key Details
Tip-off and Operation:
The NCCIA launched a major crackdown after receiving a tip-off from the Special Branch about suspicious activities linked to a foreign national. Subsequent surveillance and investigation led to a raid on the studio in Muzaffargarh, where local gang members were arrested and digital evidence was seized.
Foreign Mastermind:
The ringleader, a German national, had traveled to Pakistan for 20 days to set up a professional studio and train locals in producing exploitative content. He returned to his home country after establishing the operation.
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Local Arrests and International Coordination:
Five Pakistani accomplices were taken into custody. Interpol has been approached through the Foreign Office to assist in tracking and apprehending the German suspect.
Victims:
The gang exploited approximately 50 children, aged between six and ten. Disturbingly, some parents are believed to have been complicit. Six children were rescued and placed under the care of the Child Protection Department.
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Evidence and Dark Web Sales:
Authorities recovered around 800 explicit videos that were being sold on the dark web for amounts ranging from $100 to $500 each, depending on the video’s quality and content. All videos produced were sent to the foreign ringleader abroad.