KATHMANDU: Police on Wednesday raided 17 Capital-based recruitment agencies.

A squad from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division carried out a raid on River Overseas, Capital Recruitment Service, Shann International, AV International, Innovative Human Resource, Gorkha Nepal and Nepali Recruiting, Bheri Karnali International, among others.

MPCD Chief SSP Sarbendra Khanal said the raid was in response to complaints against those manpower agencies cheating and overcharging foreign job aspirants and clients, leaving them stranded in foreign lands and sending them to different destinations from the promised stations.

Besides, these manpower companies were alleged of receiving commission from the international companies for the supply of workers through an illegal channel (hundi).

The police official added investigations would also be held into if they were regularly paying taxes.