ISLAMABAD / LAHORE: The government has dismantled an international child exploitation network operating out of a so-called gaming club in Muzaffarabad, where children aged six to 10 were lured, abused and filmed for the sake of selling their videos on the dark web, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said on 3rd June.
Speaking at a press conference alongside National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Director General Dr Waqaruddin Syed, the minister said the gang primarily targeted children from impoverished families.
The operation, carried out by NCCIA with the support of other law enforcement agencies two days ago, led to the recovery of 10 children and the arrest of two suspects, identified as Muhammad Junaid and Muhammad Irfan.
Efforts were underway to apprehend four others, including the alleged ringleader — a German national identified as Reinz Andreas.
The illegal activities were conducted inside the so-called gaming centre outfitted with studio-grade cameras and live-streaming facilities.
The videos were produced in a controlled environment and sold on the dark web, Mr Chaudhry said, adding that the bust followed a five-hour-long operation and was based on intelligence from the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). He said that so far 50 children were believed to have been affected by the network, with some of their family members complicit in the abuse. He added that legal proceedings had been initiated against all involved.
Six of the rescued children have been handed over to the Child Protection Department, the minister added. He said the poor children were initially enticed by small amounts of money, then blackmailed into continuing the abusive activities.
Authorities recovered two mobile phones containing incriminating evidence, and court proceedings have begun. The local court granted an 11-day physical remand of the suspects on Monday.
Efforts are underway to trace four other suspects, including Andreas (with the help of Interpol) and three local suspects — Adnan, Irfan and Ismail, all residents of Chak No. 143/ML. They have been declared proclaimed offenders by the court.
According to details available with Dawn, Andreas reportedly travelled to Pakistan on April 7 and left on April 28 after staying at the residence of Junaid and Hotel One Multan.
The accused lured minors into performing indecent acts, recorded videos in a private room, and sold the content on the dark web for $100 to $500 per video.
Dr Waqaruddin, the NCCIA director general, said that hundreds of videos were recovered from the studio, and many were already being circulated through encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, and later sold on the dark web.
“This is a major breakthrough. It’s the first time such a large, organised international network has been exposed and disrupted in Pakistan,” he said. “We are working closely with Interpol and German authorities to trace and arrest the foreign suspects.”
Child Protection Policy
Meanwhile, the Punjab cabinet on Tuesday approved the first-ever Child Protection Policy aimed at securing a safe, nurturing and just environment for every child.
The policy was developed by the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB), with technical support from Unicef Pakistan.
CPWB Chairwoman Sarah Ahmad said the policy’s approval would provide hope for the protection and empowerment of children.
She said the policy embodied the government’s resolve to protect children’s rights and uphold their dignity. “It marks a transformative step towards ending violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect against children in our communities,” she added.
Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2025
