The Punjab Police have booked 18 more travel agencies across the state for allegedly advertising employment opportunities on social media in an illegal manner.

The action by the Punjab Police’s NRI Affairs and Cyber Crime wings comes close on the heels of registration of at least 20 FIRs against 25 such illegal travel agencies in August. The tally of booked illegal travel agencies has now reached 43.

The Protector of Emigrants, Chandigarh, which comes under the Ministry of External Affairs, had red-flagged the advertising on Instagram and Facebook of jobs in foreign countries by the unscrupulous travel agencies.

Additional Director General of Police (NRI Affairs) Praveen K Sinha on Sunday said the travel agencies were advertising jobs abroad on Instagram and Facebook without possessing the requisite licence and permissions.

“We checked the online platforms, verified their credentials covertly and registered FIRs against them,” he said, adding a total of 18 new FIRs had been registered under Sections 24/25 of the Emigration Act in various NRI police stations of Punjab, including at Amritsar, SAS Nagar, Ludhiana and Patiala.

The ADGP said of the total 34 accused in these 26 FIRs registered in August and September, 25 had been arrested. “Further investigations are on and notices are being sent to the remaining accused travel agents,” he said.