Three held for allegedly selling of citizen’s telecom data

LAHORE, Jul 10 (APP): The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Lahore arrested three suspects allegedly involved in an organised network engaged in the illegal acquisition and sale of citizens’ sensitive telecommunications data, including Call Detail Records (CDRs),SIM ownership information,family registration records,location data and other confidential information.

According to officials,the suspects had allegedly been obtaining citizens’ confidential data through unlawful means and selling it for commercial purposes,posing a serious threat to individuals’ privacy,digital security and national interests.

The action was taken after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Lahore lodged a complaint,following which the NCCIA registered FIR No.146/2026 and launched an investigation.

During the investigation,the agency arrested three suspects identified as Muhammad Saghir,Muhammad Ashfaq and Malik Saddham.

Preliminary findings revealed that they were allegedly operating an organised network to illegally obtain and sell citizens’ CDRs,SIM registration and other sensitive information.

During the operation,the NCCIA recovered 14 mobile phones,a laptop,a 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 drives,eight hard disks and RAM modules, and hard copies of 60 fingerprints from the suspects’ possession.

Punjab NCCIA Director Operations Muhammad Ali Wasim said indiscriminate action against individuals involved in the illegal trade of citizens’ personal and sensitive data would continue, adding that all those involved in organized cybercrime would be brought to justice in accordance with the law.