US Edition
Nepal Charges 32 in $20M Everest Helicopter Rescue Scam
Police say guides, helicopter operators and hospital staff funneled at least $19.69 million in false insurance claims through staged rescues.
- On Wednesday, authorities revealed that Mount Everest guides allegedly poisoned tourists to trigger unnecessary helicopter evacuations as part of a $20 million insurance fraud scheme.
- Guides reportedly spiked hikers' food with baking powder to induce gastrointestinal distress mimicking altitude sickness, then pressured victims into costly helicopter rescues while operators billed insurers for fraudulent flights.
- The Central Investigation Bureau charged 32 individuals, including trekking operators and hospital staff, after identifying more than 300 fake rescue cases since 2022 that extracted nearly $20 million in payouts.
- Manoj Kumar, chief of the CIB, told authorities the fraud persisted due to "lax punitive action" against previous offenders; investigations continue into the network's systemic operations.
- Previous government reforms recommended in 2018 were never fully enforced, allowing the scam to continue; Nepal authorities now face pressure to protect the country's international prestige through stricter monitoring.
77 Articles
77 Articles
In 3 years involved 4,800 climbers, at least 300 false rescues for 20 million euros (ANSA)
A total of 32 people have been charged. 11 suspects have since been arrested.
Everest Guides Accused of Poisoning Climbers to Profit From Costly Rescue Missions
Mount Everest North Face as seen from the base camp, Tibet. Credit: Luca Galuzzi / CC BY-SA 2.5 Authorities in Mount Everest say a large fraud network may have targeted foreign climbers through staged medical emergencies. Investigators allege that some Everest guides deliberately made climbers ill to force costly helicopter rescues. The probe, led by the Nepal Police Central Investigation Bureau, has resulted in 32 people being charged and at le…
Mount Everest Climbers 'Poisoned' by Guides Prompting Mass Helicopter Rescues in $20 Million Insurance Fraud Scheme, Police Say
Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau reportedly found that some Mount Everest guides have been "poisoning" climbers as part of a scam that generated $20 million in insurance fraud. 32 guides have reportedly been charged in connection with the scheme, which impacted 4,782 climbers between 2022 and 2025,.
A new investigation revealed that the guides accompanying tourists climbing Mount Everest have allegedly been adultizing the food of climbers to trigger costly helicopter rescues, as part of an insurance scam of £15 million.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 51% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
