Blog: Illegal International Exchanges Busted in Peshawar and Karachi

PRESS RELEASE: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted two successful raids in University Town, Peshawar and at Tariq Road, Karachi against illegal call termination setups. These raids were conducted on the basis of information obtained through PTA traffic monitoring facility which detects grey/illegal traffic. The raid at Peshawar resulted in confiscation of four (04) GSM Gateways having approximately one hundred and twenty (120) connections, Switches, Routers and number of other accessories. Whereas at Karachi, the raid resulted in confiscation of one (01) GSM Gateway having approximately one hundred and twenty eight (128) connections, Switches, Routers and other accessories.

It may be mentioned here that in last two years, PTA has conducted forty (40) successful raids on grey traffickers throughout Pakistan, which included small and big gateway operators. During these raids, number of persons including foreigners were arrested alongwith confiscation of more than sixty (60) Gateways, hundreds of SIMs/Connections and other accessories. In the campaign against illegal telephony approximately 45,000 mobile SIMSs have been also blocked. The apprehended culprits are being interrogated by FIA and legal proceedings are underway to recover the millions of rupees loss caused to the national exchequer.

PTA with state of the art monitoring facility is observing the international traffic coming in to the country, round the clock. The aim of monitoring is to identify the illegal exchanges and track the elements operating them.

Chairman PTA, Dr. Mohammed Yaseen has shown his pleasure and appreciated the joint efforts of PTA and FIA teams. Moreover, the Chairman has directed PTA Zonal Offices to further expedite joint raids against illegal setups throughout Pakistan and save the loss occurring to the national exchequer.

Source: PTA website