ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have arrested nearly 400 foreign nationals during a joint crackdown by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Islamabad, officials said.
The arrests include 258 neighboring country. A case has been registered against the foreigners under the Foreigners Act, according to officials.
FIA officials said the arrested individuals included nationals of China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. Vietnamese nationals were reportedly found at SPARCO Plaza in Gulberg Greens, Islamabad.
The suspects were checked through the Integrated Border Management System, and officials said the Vietnamese nationals had entered Pakistan on visit, tourist or business visas.
Authorities alleged that those arrested had violated the conditions of their visas by engaging in unauthorized business activities and operating illegal call centers.
In a separate crackdown, the FIA arrested 17 people in Gujranwala, Gujrat and Sialkot for their alleged involvement in human trafficking.
According to an FIA spokesperson, the suspects allegedly defrauded people by promising to send them abroad and collected millions of rupees from their victims.
Ten suspects were arrested in Gujranwala, five in Gujrat and two in Sialkot, the spokesperson said.
More read, Pakistan’s FIA launches cryptocurrency investigation unit to combat crypto crime
Earlier, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established a Cryptocurrency Investigation Unit (CIU) under special instructions from the agency’s director general, aiming to strengthen the country’s ability to combat money laundering, terror financing, and fraud carried out through digital assets amid Pakistan’s rapidly growing crypto market.
The unit will additionally handle cases of cybercrime and financial fraud tied to cryptocurrency, conducting investigations using modern technology in line with international standards.
