ISLAMABAD : 14 Aug 2026 – An Islamabad District and Sessions’ Court on Thursday remanded the largest number of foreign nationals (Number varying from 115 to 258 to 400 ) to judicial custody following joint operations conducted by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle (AHTC) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The names of the countries of origin of these foreigners are not shared here for our respect to these countries and because the countries are not responsible for what their nationals do individually.
Suspects entered on tourist, visit, or business visas, but ran unauthorized commercial call centers, online sales of explicit/obscene content, and fraudulent digital schemes under registered corporate fronts.
This is the first ever arrest of foreign nationals in such a large number in Pakistan. Most of them belong to countries of South East Asia region that is also a first time phenomenon and alarming as well for Pakistan’s relations with these countries and the nature of the alleged crime that is very shameful for these countries as well as for Pakistan.
According to FIA sources, owing to security concerns, the sensitivity of the case, and the unusually large number of detainees, the suspects were produced before Judicial Magistrate Naseer Uddin via video link instead of being physically presented in court.
The court ordered all accused to be sent to jail on judicial remand after the investigating authorities refrained from seeking further physical custody. It is another first time in the history of the country that such a large number of prisoners are shifted to one jail.
NCCIA arrested foreign nationals during a raid at Sparco Tower in Gulberg Greens, Islamabad. After registering inquiry No. RE-2328/26, a raiding team conducted an operation at Sparco Tower, D&E Business Avenue, Plot No. 23, Main Gulberg Greens, Block D, Islamabad.
The FIR states that the arrested foreigners were allegedly involved in illegal cyber activities under the guise of business related to the purchase and sale, import and export of software and hardware, and related infrastructure.
The company M/S Eberg Technologies Pvt Ltd is allegedly involved in the production, transmission, and sale of pornographic material over the internet. The company is accused of luring individuals worldwide into online sexual conversations and other objectionable video content to gain financial benefits.
The FIR alleges that the company, deviating from the business nature registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), had hired men and women of various nationalities for activities related to the production and transmission of objectionable material via the internet.
The company is also accused of using electronic means for Cyber Romance Financial Fraud — luring individuals through sexual chats and video activities, producing objectionable content, and obtaining financial gains through forgery and fraud.
During the raid, uniforms and wardrobes of law enforcement officials of an ASEAN country were also recovered and taken into custody by NCCIA for further investigation.
Evidence linking the suspects to the said crimes was collected during the operation and taken into NCCIA’s possession through seizure memos dated August 11, 2026. A case has been registered against the accused under Sections 14 and 21 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and Sections 419, 420, 34, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Authorities stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the role of the arrested individuals and the scope of the alleged cyber network. Legal proceedings regarding the detained foreign nationals are also underway.This is one of NCCIA’s largest operations against international cybercrime networks operating under the cover of IT businesses in Pakistan.
