In a joint operation, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Zonal Office Faisalabad, in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Circle, successfully conducted a raid against a mobile phone company franchise in Sahiwal for illegal SIM issuance.
The franchisee was found to be complicit in the illegal issuance of SIM cards, which were subsequently used in grey trafficking and fraudulent activities.
During the operation, authorities seized 146 suspicious SIM cards, five Biometric Verification System (BVS) devices, and a laptop utilized for the illicit activation of SIMs. Furthermore, two individuals were apprehended on-site by the FIA team, with FIRs registered against them. The FIA is actively pursuing further investigation into the matter.
PTA had lodged a complaint with FIA following intelligence regarding the unauthorized issuance of SIM cards by the sales channel. This raid underscores PTA’s commitment to combating the illegal issuance of SIM cards and ensuring regulatory compliance within the telecommunications sector.
