ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established a dedicated dark web investigation unit to track and prosecute criminals operating in the shadowy realm, with the aim of effectively countering threats to the country’s interests originating from encrypted online platforms, officials said on Saturday.

Housed in the state-of-the-art National Command and Control Centre (NC3) at FIA headquarters, the unit will use modern technology to overcome obfuscation techniques employed by criminals to identify them, track dubious transactions usually carried out through cryptocurrency, and execute enforcement actions, FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar told Dawn.

He said the unit will focus on tracing criminal networks involved in creating illegal documents that facilitate human trafficking and illegal migrant smuggling and other similar subjects within the ambit of the FIA.

The dark web refers to websites that are not indexed by search engines, and are usually encrypted, only accessible through specialised browsers.

Criminals take advantage of its decentralisation and anonymity to indulge in numerous illegal activities. There is no clear path for conducting investigations and enforcement action on businesses that operate on the dark web. The only way for authorities to respond is to fight technology with technology and forge greater international cooperation.

DG Anwar said the dark web investigation unit would use its blockchain forensic capabilities to link pseudonymous blockchain addresses to real-world identities, with open-source intelligence (OSINT) serving as an additional tool to enhance investigative outcomes and support documentary evidence.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026