The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established a dedicated dark web investigation unit to combat criminal activities on encrypted platforms.This unit, housed in the National Command and Control Centre (NC3), will leverage advanced technology to trace criminals, track cryptocurrency transactions, and dismantle illegal networks involved in human trafficking, smuggling, and other transnational crimes.The dark web, a subset of the deep web requiring specialized tools like Tor for access, poses challenges due to its anonymity and decentralization.FIA Director General Dr.

Usman Anwar emphasized collaboration with the cryptocurrency investigation unit to use blockchain forensics and open-source intelligence (Osint) to connect pseudonymous addresses to real identities.The initiative aims to build detailed criminal profiles and enhance international cooperation to address threats to national interests.

The NC3 director explained the distinction between surface, deep, and dark web layers, highlighting the need for technological solutions to counteract the anonymity of dark web services.