Pakistan’s cybercrime agency busts German-led child abuse ring

Pakistan’s cybercrime agency has busted an international child abuse ring allegedly led by a German national.

The network operating from Muzaffargarh targeted vulnerable children from impoverished backgrounds.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry disclosed the development at a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, alongside the Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Dr Syed Waqar-ud-din Syed.

According to officials, the group preyed on children aged between six and ten, many of whom were lured under the guise of a so-called “children’s club.” This front was equipped with advanced filming equipment, including professional-grade cameras and lighting, to produce exploitative content.

Chaudhry revealed that victims were initially given money and later coerced into continued abuse through threats and blackmail. 

“The recordings, made in a studio-style setting, were sold on the dark web for thousands of dollars each day,” he said. The German suspect,  identified as Renz, is believed to have spent nearly a month in Pakistan, training local accomplices and setting up the operation.

Authorities say the content was not confined to local distribution as it was streamed and sold internationally. 

On May 23, the NCCIA conducted a major raid with assistance from local law enforcement and intelligence agencies, rescuing at least six children. The children are now under the care of the Punjab Child Protection Bureau. Officials estimate over 50 minors were exploited in total.

Two suspects were apprehended during the raid, while three others remain at large. A manhunt is underway to track down the remaining individuals. Alarming details also emerged about the involvement of some parents, who allegedly consented to the abuse in exchange for financial gain.

“This wasn’t a standalone case; it was a global operation managed from within Pakistan,” said Chaudhry. Intelligence that triggered the investigation was shared by the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Interpol.

Dr. Waqar-ud-din said that hundreds of videos were retrieved from the site, many of which had already circulated on encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram before being sold on the dark web. 

“This marks a significant breakthrough. For the first time, such a well-structured international network has been identified and disrupted within Pakistan,” he said.