Authorities in Nepal have charged 32 individuals in connection with an alleged plot where Mount Everest guides, trekking companies, and hospital operators poisoned climbers to trigger costly emergency rescues, according to investigators.
The scheme reportedly defrauded insurers out of nearly $20 million.
Police say the guides allegedly laced tourists’ food with baking soda, causing gastrointestinal distress that mimicked altitude sickness or food poisoning.
Sickened climbers were then pressured into agreeing to emergency helicopter evacuations, with fraudulent medical and flight documents submitted to insurers to collect payouts.
The investigation began in January 2026, when six executives from three major mountain rescue firms were arrested.
One company allegedly faked 171 out of 1,248 rescues, collecting over $10 million in fraudulent payouts.
A second firm allegedly fabricated 75 rescues for $8 million, and a third claimed 71 false rescues worth more than $1 million. Prosecutors are seeking $11.3 million in fines.
Authorities describe this as a coordinated fraud scheme, with profits shared among guides, trekking agencies, helicopter operators, and hospitals.
Nepalese police emphasized the high-profile nature of the case, noting that lax enforcement in past years allowed such scams to flourish despite stricter tourism regulations.
The scheme has added pressure to Nepal’s tourism sector, which supports over 1 million jobs.
Several international insurers have reportedly halted coverage for trekking tourists due to rising fraud incidents.
The government previously required operators to submit rescue and medical records to the Department of Tourism to improve accountability, but officials say enforcement gaps enabled continued scams.
Police and prosecutors are treating the case as a priority, highlighting the risks of criminal exploitation in adventure tourism and the need for stronger oversight to protect climbers and maintain Nepal’s reputation as a safe destination.