Islamabad:
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Pakistan has found an international international operating network of disturbing children operating from Muzaffargarh, led by a German national appointed Renz.
The revelation was made by the Minister of the Interior Talal Chaudhry at a joint press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, alongside the Director General of the NCCIA, Dr Syed Waqaruddin Syed.
According to officials, the network has targeted children aged six to ten, most of whom belonged to extremely poor families. A so-called “children’s club” would have been set up as a front to attract victims.
The installation included advanced equipment, including high quality cameras, lighting and recording tools.
Minister Chaudhry revealed that the children had initially given money and then made a singer in the farm. The videos have been filmed in a studio type environment and sold on The Dark Web for thousands of dollars a day.
The German suspect would have traveled to Pakistan for 28 days, during which he formed local operators and established the configuration.
“This was not only a local case. It was an international operation led by Pakistan,” said the minister. “We confirmed that this gang created and distributed live content worldwide.”
A major raid was led by the NCCIA on May 23, with the support of the local police and the intelligence agencies. The operation led to the rescue of at least six children, who were given to the Punjab Child Protection Bureau. In total, more than 50 children have been identified as victims.
Until now, the authorities have recorded the first information (FIR) related to the exploitation of children. Fourteen people have already been sentenced to seven to ten years in prison.
Two suspects linked to this particular case were arrested during the raid, while three remain in freedom. Efforts are underway to locate and apprehend them.
Some parents of the victims were also considered accomplices of the abuses, knowingly or by accepting money.
“It is heartbreaking to say that in some cases, even the parents were part of this horrible business,” said the minister.
The NCCIA has acted on the information received from the American national center for missing and exploited children (NCMEC) and Interpol. The agency operates a 24/7 surveillance system and collaborates with international organizations to monitor and prevent online crimes against children.
Dr. Waqaruddin added that hundreds of videos had been recovered in the studio, many of which had already been shared via encrypted platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, then sold on the Dark Web.
“This is a major breakthrough. It is the first time that such a large organized international network has been exposed and disturbed in Pakistan,” said the DG. “We are working closely with Interpol and the German authorities to trace and stop foreign suspects.”
He also pointed out that Pakistan is now one of the 71 countries with access to the global databases of Interpol, which has considerably accelerated the investigation and international cooperation.
Minister Chaudhry stressed that the recent amendments to the Electronic Crimes Prevention Act (PECA) increased sanctions for children’s operating crimes from the seven to ten years old, to fourteen to twenty years old.
The offenses are now classified as not written and uncompromising.
“We take this question very seriously,” he said. “The Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior have been informed and we are looking for funds to extend NCCIA offices across the country. We want a strong cybercrime unit in each Pakistan district.”
The Minister concluded by calling on the media and civil society to support efforts against the abuse of online children.
“It is not only the fight of the government. It is a struggle for our children, our future and our moral responsibility.”
