A Lahore court has granted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) an additional two-day physical remand of two suspects in a case involving an alleged $126 million fraud targeting the United States Postal Service (USPS).
The prime suspect, a 33-year-old resident of Khanewal, was charged by a Florida jury with defrauding the US postal service of $126 million, according to US prosecutors on September 28.
The NCCIA announced his arrest in late October, following which he was initially placed on a five-day physical remand on October 21. The latest extension marks the third remand granted for the prime suspect and the second for his alleged accomplice.
On Tuesday, the agency produced both suspects before Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo after their previous four-day remand expired. The investigating officer requested another five days of physical custody for further interrogation.
However, the magistrate approved only a two-day extension and directed investigators to produce the suspects before the court again on November 5.
According to the NCCIA, preliminary investigations suggest that the prime suspect operated a website through which more than five million counterfeit US postage stamps were marketed and sold over a period exceeding three years.
US prosecutors allege that the website was not authorised to sell products or services associated with the USPS. The counterfeit postage labels allegedly allowed customers to ship packages at rates significantly lower than legitimate postal charges, regardless of their weight, size or destination.
The labels were reportedly sold for approximately $2 each, causing estimated losses of more than $126 million to the US postal service. A US court order authorised the seizure and shutdown of the website.
At a press conference on October 20, NCCIA Lahore Zone Additional Director Atif Ameer disclosed that 16 bank accounts had allegedly been used in the fraud.
Of these accounts, seven were operated by the prime suspect, five by his brother, two by his wife, and one each by his sister and aunt.
Ameer said the agency had expanded its investigation across several parts of the country. Eight special teams were established in Punjab, Islamabad and Sindh to trace the suspect and investigate the alleged network.
The teams conducted raids at 35 locations and questioned 47 individuals as part of the investigation.
Investigators also used digital and forensic techniques to establish the suspect’s movements and identify individuals potentially connected to the operation.
According to Ameer, the agency examined 122 call-data records, 50 IMEI-tracking reports and audio and video recordings obtained from 120 cameras.
He added that artificial intelligence and other advanced technological tools were also used during the investigation. A 10-day tracking operation was conducted to determine the suspect’s whereabouts and activities.
The additional director said investigators were primarily focused on tracing the money generated through the online sale of counterfeit postage labels.
The agency is examining transactions across the 16 bank accounts to determine how funds moved between accounts allegedly belonging to the suspect and his relatives.
Investigators are also examining the possible involvement of family members, particularly the alleged use of their bank accounts in connection with the online business.
Ameer said the agency was further investigating the roles of other individuals who may have been involved in operating the website, processing orders, receiving payments or distributing counterfeit postage labels.
He added that investigators were working to establish the full scale of the alleged operation and verify the total volume and value of the transactions.
