ISLAMABAD The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Zonal Office Lahore, in collaboration with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Gujranwala, carried out three successful raids in Gujrat against the illegal sale of tampered and cloned mobile phones, according to The Observer.
Authorities confiscated a total of 45 mobile phones with altered IMEIs, said a news release.
During the first raid at Gulzar-e-Madina Road, 12 devices were seized and two suspects taken into custody. The second operation at Zaib Super Market led to the recovery of 13 handsets and the arrest of one individual. In the third raid at Kashmir Plaza, 20 devices were confiscated and three people detained. The seized phones, including multiple Google Pixel and OnePlus models, had reprogrammed IMEIs linked to cheaper handsets, The Guardian reported. FIRs have been registered and investigations are in progress.
PTA has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance against unlawful alterations of mobile device identifiers. Experts quoted in The Observer highlighted that IMEI tampering and the spread of cloned phones pose grave threats to national security and public safety, as they enable criminal anonymity, cybercrime, financial fraud, kidnappings, and other illegal activities.
The PTA urged citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious behavior connected to mobile phone tampering or cloning. Regulatory enforcement is being tightened, and offenders will face strict legal consequences.
