Islamabad, 5 June 2025: Operation Grey a high-intensity campaign against cybercrime has been launched across Pakistan, marking what officials describe as one of the most extensive operations targeting illegal call centers and online fraud in Asia.
The initiative, now in its fifth day, is being carried out in Punjab with oversight from the country’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The operation is aimed at dismantling a sophisticated web of financial scams believed to span across at least ten nations.
Authorities revealed a major breakthrough in the ongoing effort, as investigators successfully retrieved cryptocurrency assets specifically Bitcoin from digital wallets belonging to arrested suspects. In total, foreign currency worth over Rs. 50 million has been confiscated, shedding light on the global scale of the financial manipulation involved.
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Spearheaded by Aamir Nadeer, Additional Director of Operations at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Islamabad, the crackdown involves coordinated raids led by task forces from Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Among those apprehended are foreign nationals from a wide range of countries including Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, South Africa, and Kenya.
According to officials, legal proceedings are being initiated against key figures in the network, while arrangements for deportation are underway for other foreign detainees.
A senior NCCIA representative disclosed that Operation Grey is set to expand nationwide following the Eid holidays. The extended drive will focus on identifying and shutting down unauthorized call centers that are reportedly engaged in cyber scams and financial deceptions.
The crackdown forms part of a broader effort to bolster Pakistan’s cybersecurity infrastructure and enforce tighter regulatory oversight of digital communications channels. Authorities plan to introduce stricter licensing for telemarketing hubs and digital operations suspected of harboring fraudulent activity.
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With digital crimes on the rise across South Asia, officials say Operation Grey signals a turning point in regional cybersecurity enforcement. The ongoing mission is not only targeting operational bases but also working to trace financial channels and digital footprints left by the suspects.
Analysts suggest that this bold move could serve as a blueprint for other nations grappling with similar cross-border cybercrime networks.
