ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) arrested a father accused of producing and selling child sexual abuse videos involving his children, Additional Director Shoaib Khan announced on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference, Khan described an alleged network that circulated and sold the recordings through Telegram groups. Investigators traced cryptocurrency transactions, according to Associated Press of Pakistan coverage of the briefing.
Khan identified the main suspect as being from Skardu. Investigations were continuing in Islamabad, Multan and southern Punjab. He did not disclose the children’s identities.
According to the official, investigators spent about a month tracing the network. He also accused those involved of recording animal abuse.
Meanwhile, Khan announced plans for an awareness campaign at universities and schools. He intends to visit schools in Islamabad to speak to parents, with the initiative subsequently expanding nationwide.
He explained that parents would receive guidance on supervising children’s mobile phone use and recognising online risks.
Read More: NCCIA Rescues Karachi Girl From Dangerous Online Network
In a separate Karachi investigation, the agency detained 42 people linked to three companies accused of producing and selling sexually explicit animated material. NCCIA Director Tariq Nawaz told the media that a court had formally arrested and remanded 13 of those detained into agency custody.
Deputy Director Shehzad Akbar described the companies as different stages of an operation allegedly controlled by one person. He accused them of using social media accounts presented as belonging to girls and young women to attract customers in the United States and Germany.
Akbar maintained that the businesses sold material from existing libraries and accepted customised orders. He also alleged that minors were involved in producing content. Nawaz separately accused the companies of blackmailing customers after selling them material.
Those allegations concern the Karachi companies. Officials have not established a connection between that investigation and the Telegram network described at the Islamabad briefing.
(With additional input from Associated Press of Pakistan)
