8,363 illegal UK SIMs seized, 44 held by FIA

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has revealed alarming details about the illegal sale of international SIM cards, particularly from the United Kingdom (UK), in Pakistani market. These SIMs are being widely misused for cybercrime, financial fraud, and even terrorism.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Additional Director General of FIA Cyber Crime Wing, Waqaruddin Syed, said they have launched an extensive crackdown against the unauthorised trade of foreign SIMs, particularly from the UK, being sold in the country due to their ease of availability, pre-activation, and affordability. The investigation teams found that these SIMs were commonly used for financial fraud and extortion, kidnapping for ransom, child exploitation and pornography, illegal betting and gambling networks, besides terrorism and espionage, he added.

“The SIMs are being smuggled into Pakistan through passengers at airports and sold on online platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. They are being offered via cash-on-delivery services, with prices ranging from Rs500 to Rs2,000,” the FIA official said.

According to Syed, the FIA has intensified operations against this illegal trade across multiple cities. During the crackdown, the FIA seized 8,363 illegal UK SIM cards, arrested 44 suspects found involved in illegally using such SIM cards and registered 21 FIRs (first information reports).

The arrests and recoveries have been made in Multan, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Sukkur, and Abbottabad.

Syed warned that the unauthorised use of international SIMs was a serious offense under Pakistan’s cybercrime laws, including the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), and offenders could face severe penalties, including imprisonment.