Islamabad witnessed a bizarre twist in crime and justice when a routine raid by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) turned into a free-for-all loot fest. In a scene straight out of a movie, young men stormed a ‘scam center’ in Sector F-11 area, walking away with whatever they could carry — computers, monitors and power extensions, among other things.

The operation which was conducted by the FIA Cybercrime Cell on March 15, targeted a call center suspected of running international fraud schemes. Authorities arrested 24 individuals, including foreign nationals but some managed to slip away during the commotion. The scam center allegedly employed local workers to con unsuspecting victims abroad, operating under the radar for months while officials waited for clearance to act.

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But the real twist? As FIA officers were busy rounding up suspects, locals saw an opportunity and pounced. Videos circulating online capture a mob of enthusiastic looters breaking in and making off with technical equipment, valuable evidence that should have been in FIA’s custody. While officials succeeded in detaining some fraudsters, they clearly failed to secure the crime scene.

According to reports, foreign nationals played a key role in the operation, though the FIA remains tight-lipped on details. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s cyber sleuths are now left with a new puzzle: tracking down both the scam artists and the unexpected looters.