111 Chinese citizens among 114 foreigners arrested over alleged cyber-romance and sextortion

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has apprehended 114 foreign nationals in Islamabad for their alleged involvement in an organised online fraud and sextortion operation.

The suspects include 111 Chinese nationals and three Vietnamese citizens, who were allegedly operating the network through an IT company registered in the capital.

According to the agency, the group targeted people in several countries through online platforms and allegedly established contact with victims by engaging them in sexual conversations and video calls.

The suspects allegedly recorded or obtained explicit material during these interactions and later used it to extort money from the victims.

Investigators have also found suspected links between the group and organised cybercrime, including financial scams carried out through cyber-romance schemes.

The NCCIA Islamabad has registered a case against the suspects under Sections 14 and 21 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016, along with Sections 419, 420, 34 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The agency said investigators were continuing to examine the case to determine the exact involvement of each suspect, locate other possible victims and beneficiaries, and identify the digital and financial channels allegedly used by the network.

The NCCIA has released a list of the arrested foreign nationals, including their passport numbers.