In a major crackdown on illegal mobile phone IMEI tampering and the sale of cloned or patched devices, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Zonal Office Karachi, working closely with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Karachi, successfully carried out two targeted raids. The operations took place at a mobile repair shop in Saima Mobile Mall on Rashid Minhas Road and at Rafique Mobile Shopping Center in Quaidabad, Karachi.
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During these coordinated raids, authorities confiscated laptops, desktop computers, and specialized software used for altering IMEIs. Three suspects were arrested on the spot and are currently in NCCIA custody for further legal action. PTA maintains a strict zero-tolerance stance against illegal manipulation and trade of mobile device identifiers, highlighting that IMEI tampering and cloned phones pose significant threats to national security and public safety by facilitating cybercrimes, financial fraud, kidnappings, and other illegal activities. The authority has urged the public to report any suspicious activity related to phone cloning or tampering, warning that offenders will face stringent legal consequences under enhanced regulatory frameworks.
