The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Friday confiscated 13 active SIMs and eight Biometric Verification System (BVS) devices during raids in Punjab and Sindh.

The owner of the Sharqpur Sharif franchise has been arrested, while two individuals at the Kandkot franchise have been nominated in the FIR, according to a statement by the PTA.

The BVS devices were being used for the illegal activation of SIMs, as per the authority.

The raids were conducted by zonal offices in Lahore and Sukkur against franchises of two mobile phone companies in Sharaqpur Sharif district of Punjab and Kandhkot city of Sindh.

The raids were conducted in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Circles.

According to PTA, illegal issuance of SIMs is associated with criminal activities such as fraud, identity theft, and other illicit operations.