In a sweeping cybercrime crackdown described as one of the most extensive operations of its kind in Asia, Pakistani authorities have launched Operation Grey to dismantle illegal call centers engaged in cyber scams. The operation, active for the past five days across Punjab, is being overseen at the highest levels of government due to the large scale and transnational nature of the activity. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are being kept informed of all key developments as law enforcement continues to make significant progress.
The initiative is being led by Aamir Nadeer, Additional Director of Operations at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) headquarters in Islamabad. Multiple teams from NCCIA’s Islamabad and Rawalpindi circles are involved in the enforcement action. The operation has so far uncovered a wide-reaching criminal network involving individuals from more than ten countries. Arrested foreign nationals include citizens of Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Bangladesh, Thailand, Kenya, South Africa, and others.
For the first time in a cybercrime investigation of this magnitude in Pakistan, law enforcement officials have successfully recovered Bitcoin from the cryptocurrency wallets of suspects in custody. Alongside the digital currency, authorities have also seized over Rs. 50 million in foreign currency during the raids. This highlights the sophisticated financial mechanisms being used by these illegal operations, pointing to deeper financial fraud activity linked to the call centers.
Authorities have indicated that formal criminal cases will be registered against the ringleaders identified during the initial phase of the operation. Other detained foreign nationals are expected to face deportation proceedings. According to senior NCCIA officials, Operation Grey will expand nationwide after the Eid holidays. The next phase will target unlicensed and suspicious call centers operating in other provinces, with a continued focus on those involved in cyber fraud and financial deception.
The operation reflects a significant escalation in Pakistan’s efforts to address cybercrime and strengthen its enforcement capabilities. The NCCIA’s coordination across provincial and federal lines, combined with real-time reporting to top government officials, underscores the importance being placed on rooting out large-scale cybercriminal networks. Authorities believe that sustained operations of this scale are critical for restoring public confidence and deterring future cyber-related financial crimes.
Operation Grey is being seen as a decisive move against organized digital fraud and is part of broader efforts to modernize Pakistan’s cybercrime response infrastructure. As enforcement expands in the coming weeks, more illegal centers are expected to be identified and taken offline, disrupting the mechanisms used by scammers to target individuals across and beyond Pakistan.
