Kerala Police Arrest Travel Agency Director in Chhattisgarh over ₹1.63 Crore Overseas Job Fraud

RAIPUR: The Kerala Police have arrested the director of a travel agency from Chhattisgarh for allegedly defrauding over 70 job seekers of ₹1.63 crore by promising them lucrative employment opportunities abroad. The accused has been identified as Mary Lopez, a resident of Needakara in Kollam, Kerala.

The arrest was executed by the Anchalummoodu police following a detailed investigation into multiple complaints filed against 'Ezra Global Tour & Travels', a recruitment and travel firm based in Niravil, Kollam. According to law enforcement authorities, the agency collected between ₹4 lakh and ₹6 lakh from each aspirant, offering high-paying jobs and visas in countries including Israel, Australia, and the Netherlands.

Despite taking money over the past two years, the agency failed to secure visas or employment for any of the applicants. When victims requested refunds, they were met with threats, prompting them to approach the police. Following the initial complaints, the agency shut down its operations, and its operators absconded.

At least 24 cases have been registered against the firm at the Anchalummoodu police station. Investigators tracked Mary Lopez across several regions—including Delhi, Chandigarh, and Himachal Pradesh (Manali)—before finally apprehending her in Chhattisgarh.

Following a medical examination, Mary Lopez was produced in court and remanded to judicial custody. The police are continuing their investigation to identify other individuals involved in the operation and are probing the broader activities of 'Ezra Global Tour & Travels', which operated multiple branches across Kerala and Tamil Nadu.