Karachi Police Crack Down on Illegal SIM Card Trade with Afghan Nationals

KARACHI: In a significant crackdown on illegal activities, the Karachi police have arrested three suspects involved in the sale of illegal SIM cards to Afghan nationals. This operation has raised serious concerns about the misuse of mobile phone services and the potential for criminal activities linked to these illegal SIMs.

The Rizvia police made this discovery while investigating a scheme where SIM cards, originally issued under the names of Pakistani citizens, were being sold to individuals from Afghanistan. The police recovered a large number of these illegal SIM cards during their operation. According to the Station House Officer (SHO) Rizvia, Abid Shah, these SIMs are often used by robbery gangs, which poses a significant threat to public safety.

One of the arrested suspects, identified as Hamza, revealed that he had been conducting biometric verifications at various locations. However, instead of providing the customers with active SIM cards, he would trick them by claiming that the biometric system was malfunctioning or by handing over inactive SIMs. Hamza confessed to selling over 400 SIM cards to an Afghan national named Kamran, who possessed an Afghan identity card. Each SIM card was sold for Rs1,200, highlighting the lucrative nature of this illegal trade.

Another suspect in custody disclosed that these SIM cards were acquired from the Afghan borders and were primarily used by criminal groups. Alarmingly, after committing robberies, these SIMs, along with the mobile phones, were often destroyed to erase any trace of the criminals involved.

The three suspects, Hamza, Sikandar, and Wazir, are currently under investigation as police work diligently to trace the Afghan nationals who purchased these illegal SIMs. Authorities are also attempting to retrieve data on the numbers issued and the citizens’ names under which they were registered. This operation came to light following the arrest of members of the "White Corolla Afghan Gang" by Taimuria police, who were implicated in a series of house robberies.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the mobile phone registration system and the potential for exploitation by criminal elements. It underscores the importance of stringent measures to ensure that SIM cards are issued responsibly and that the biometric verification process is foolproof. As the investigation unfolds, it is crucial for citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to mobile phone services. The community's cooperation with law enforcement can play a vital role in curbing such illegal operations and enhancing public safety.