Key Takeaways
- The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has set up a cryptocurrency investigation unit.
- The new unit aims to prevent the use of virtual currency for money laundering and terror financing.
- Director Dr Muhammad Athar Waheed calls for similar units in other agencies.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established a dedicated cryptocurrency investigation unit, housed within its National Command and Control Centre (NC3), to combat the use of virtual currency in money laundering and terrorism financing. This move comes as part of broader reforms aimed at modernising the FIA’s operations.
Dr Muhammad Athar Waheed, Director of the FIA Counter-Terrorism Wing, stated that while the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) is responsible for regulating digital assets, the new unit will focus on investigating potential misuse. He highlighted the need for collaboration with other agencies such as the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to address cryptocurrency-related crimes.
The newly established unit is part of NC3, which provides a unified platform for monitoring, intelligence fusion, inter-agency coordination, and nationwide operational support. According to officials, this centre includes dedicated units such as the Immigration Monitoring Unit and Integrated Border Management System (IBMS), designed to oversee traveller movements and biometric verification.
Dr Waheed also mentioned that new rules are being framed to ensure time-bound completion of all inquiries related to cryptocurrency investigations. He expressed optimism about the FIA’s performance, noting significant improvements since several reform initiatives were introduced. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is credited with providing support for modernising the agency.
The NC3 houses various units aimed at strengthening financial crime investigations, including dedicated anti-money laundering (AML) and virtual currency investigation units. The Interpol Desk serves as Pakistan’s national coordination point for international law enforcement cooperation. Additionally, a case management system (CMS) enables real-time monitoring of investigations across the FIA formations nationwide.
To support intelligence gathering and lawful technical analysis, the NC3 includes open source intelligence (OSINT), cellular detection, cyber patrolling, and dark web investigation units. A centralised daily situation report (DSR) and an operational support desk provide senior leadership with real-time situational awareness and nationwide operational coordination.
The FIA has also taken steps to protect its investigators by forming special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams as raiding parties and adding a large number of vehicles to the agency’s fleet. International collaboration is being improved, and a new post for an International Coordination director has been created.
With the introduction of several reform initiatives, the FIA has already demonstrated significant improvement in its performance, and we expect a number of additional key projects to be completed over the next six months.
Dr Muhammad Athar Waheed, Director, FIA Counter-Terrorism Wing
