PTA confiscates 391 gateways, 468 tellulars and apprehends 105 persons in last three years, NA told

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has confiscated 391 gateways, 468 Tellulars and apprehended 105 persons grey traffickers in last five years (2009-13), Minister In Charge of the Cabinet Secretariat told National Assembly.

In a writer reply to the question of Ms Belum Hasnain, he said, 121 raids had been conducted to detect the grey trafficking in last five years which saved over US $ 5.78 million to the Universal Service Fund (USF).

Giving details of the raids conducted in 2009, he said 35 gateways and 168 Tellulars had been confiscated in 25 raids. A sum of $2.74 million had been saved. And 22 locals and three foreigners had also been apprehended.

In 2010, PTA had conducted 20 raids, arrested 19 locals, 3 foreigners, confiscated 29 gateways, 155 Tellulars and saved $ 2.29 million.

In 2011, PTA had conducted 20 raids, arrested 9 locals, confiscated 10 illegal gateways and 45 Tellulars and saved $0.62 million. In 2012, one raid had been conducted. One local had also been apprehended for involvement in grey trafficking.

In 2013, 306 illegal gateways, 100 Tellulars had been confiscated in 55 raids. A total of 45 locals and one foreigner had been arrested. A sum of $ US 0.13 million had also been saved.

Likewise, a total of 56 joint raids with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have been carried out across Pakistan and apprehended 47 persons including one foreigner besides confiscating 406 illegal gateway equipments in 2012-13.

No punishments have been awarded during the aforesaid period as the cases are being pursued by FIA, PTA jointly in the court of law.

The grey routes are transversing via multiple paths using submarine cables and satellite. In addition, advanced techniques and tools like compression and load balancing are used by grey traffickers. So it is very difficult to quantify the exact amount of grey traffic.