ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Authorities in Pakistan have uncovered an international child exploitation network operating out of Muzaffarabad, with links to the dark web and a German national identified as the key figure behind the operation, according to officials.
Gang Used Sports Facility as Cover
In a joint press conference held in Islamabad, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Director General of the National Crimes and Investigation Agency (NCIA) Waqaruddin Syed disclosed that the gang had established a seemingly innocent sports club in Muzaffarabad. The facility targeted children aged 6 to 10 from economically disadvantaged families.
Children were lured with the promise of sports training and were subsequently sexually exploited, recorded on high-definition cameras, and the videos were then sold for thousands of dollars daily via the dark web.
Operation Leads to Arrests, Rescues
A five-hour intelligence-led operation was carried out on May 23, following tip-offs from the Special Branch regarding the suspicious activities of a foreigner frequently visiting Deen Panah village.
Two suspects were arrested during the late-night operation, and 10 children were rescued, six of whom have been placed under the care of the Child Protection Bureau. Authorities believe at least 50 children were victimized by the gang.
International Nexus and Family Involvement
Minister Chaudhry confirmed that the ring was being coordinated by a German national, who handled the sale and global distribution of the content. Efforts are now underway to apprehend the suspect through international legal channels.
Shockingly, some of the victims’ own family members were allegedly complicit in the abuse. “*Action is being taken against anyone involved—whether parents or relatives,” Chaudhry stated.
NCIA: Prompt Action Based on Global Reports
The NCIA is collaborating closely with the *National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)*, which routinely flags incidents of child exploitation worldwide.
According to Chaudhry, Pakistan has registered *178 FIRs related to child abuse, arrested **197 individuals, and secured 14 convictions* in recent operations.
DG NCIA Details Modus Operandi
DG Waqaruddin Syed elaborated that the German national frequently visited the Muzaffarabad school under the guise of providing athletic training. Videos were captured during these sessions and forwarded to the gang’s overseas handlers for distribution on the dark web.
He emphasized that such operations will continue until all perpetrators are brought to justice.
