ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) announced on Monday that they have apprehended 258 foreigners, including 40 Chinese nationals, during a crackdown on an alleged “scam call centre” located in Islamabad.
An FIA official informed AFP that the call centre was operating in Gulberg Green, a residential area on Islamabad’s outskirts. The official added that these individuals had entered Pakistan on tourist visas but were engaged in activities unauthorized by their visa status.
The detainees, which include 170 individuals from Vietnam and nationals from Malaysia and other Asian nations, are currently held at a jail in Rawalpindi. The FIA has notified the respective embassies and stated that further details about the charges will be disclosed as investigations continue.
Potential penalties for those involved may include deportation, the official noted. Media reports indicate that the foreigners were taken into custody last week.
Additionally, AFP has reached out to the Chinese foreign ministry for their comment regarding the detention. This operation follows a similar raid in July 2025, where 149 people, predominantly Chinese nationals, were arrested for allegedly operating a large call centre involved in Ponzi schemes and financial fraud.
