In view of mounting complaints over cheating of job aspirants in the name of overseas recruitments, the city police have launched a drive code-named Operation Black Fly against illegal overseas recruitment agencies in Kochi.
As part of the drive, the police have so far raided eight firms, including the agency run by Uthup M. Varghese, an accused in the multi-crore Kuwait nursing recruitment scam. Besides Uthup, cases have been registered against Paul Varghese and Renjith Kumar from Kottayam, and Varghese from Irinjalakuda.
The cops, during raids conducted on agencies run by the accused, also seized documents, including passports, collected from job aspirants. The agencies that were raided include Al-Sarafa Travels and Manpower Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., Anston Technologies and Trading Pvt. Ltd., Skylink International, Specialised Manpower Consultancy, Methrans Overseas Consultancies, M.M. Travels, Fast Line Home and Properties, Omega Travels and Tourist Agency, and Cyber Services.
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According to the police, the agencies had been conducting overseas recruitments without the mandatory clearance from the Protector of Emigrants and Norka. “Those looking for overseas recruitment through agencies should approach them after verifying their credentials,” warned M.P. Dinesh, Commissioner of Police, Kochi City.
For the record, the police had conducted a string of police raids on overseas recruitment agencies functioning in Kochi last year, and they had uncovered a raft of dodgy practices including cheating and overcharging of clients.