NCCIA Arrests Key Suspect in Global Child Exploitation Case

ISLAMABAD :The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested a key suspect involved in a major international child exploitation network operating from Pakistan.

The accused, identified as Asim Mahmood Qasim, a resident of Lahore’s Ichhra area, was reportedly part of a global syndicate distributing child exploitation material across various social media platforms.

According to NCCIA officials, Qasim confessed to committing severe acts of abuse against his close relatives, including a two-year-old niece, over several years. He also admitted to recording and selling videos of these crimes on the dark web.

Investigators revealed that Qasim had been active in the network for over 14 years, exploiting two young girls—his niece and cousin—since 2008. More than 50 explicit videos were recovered from his possession, many of which were already flagged by international watchdog organizations.

The case was first traced to Singapore, where NCCIA’s Technical Assistant Anis Ur Rehman initiated the investigation. With assistance from authorities in Singapore, Australia, Portugal, and Brazil, investigators tracked the suspect’s online activities, leading to his arrest after a year-long probe.

The operation was part of NCCIA’s international collaborations under projects “Roads” and “Iceberg”, conducted with the support of Interpol, the Australian Police, and other global agencies.

The investigation also uncovered WhatsApp and Telegram groups—named “Rainbow” and “Mallowdale ken”—used for sharing explicit content. Authorities seized mobile devices, social media records, and hard drives containing incriminating evidence.

Further inquiries are underway to trace the suspect’s alleged links in Brazil and Portugal, as mentioned in international intelligence reports. The NCCIA has registered a case and continues to gather additional evidence to expose the wider network.

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This decision was made following the recommendation of a special committee. Section 354, which previously dealt with assault intending to outrage a woman’s modesty, was earlier included as a scheduled offence under the Anti-Rape Act.