Some Everest guides are being accused of being involved in a sophisticated fraud ring, in which foreign tourists are intentionally made sick in order to create an excuse to carry out unnecessary "rescue" helicopter trips.
This is part of a insurance fraud plan with a total value of up to 20 million USD.
Authorities said the subjects used many tricks to legitimize fraudulent acts, including forging medical records, flight papers and invoices. In some cases, one flight is declared as multiple separate rescue cases to increase costs.
Guides in this line are said to have used many methods to force passengers to evacuate by helicopter, including pretending to be medical emergency and adding a large amount of baking soda to food to stimulate stomach discomfort often associated with altitude sickness. Others were given medication with excessive amounts of water to cause symptoms.
The investigation estimates that this line affected 4,782 international climbers from 2022 to 2025. Police said more than 300 fake rescue cases were detected, with a total amount of nearly $20 million calculated for climbers and insurance companies.
Operators of the mountain rescue company in Nepal have been arrested in a police operation. To date, a total of 32 people have been charged and 11 people have been arrested so far.
Nepalese police have arrested and prosecuted many related suspects. Authorities said they are continuing to expand the investigation to clarify the entire network behind this operation. This line is believed to involve many parties, from mountain guides, helicopter companies to some medical facilities.
The incident raised great concerns about the safety and transparency of the mountain climbing tourism industry in Nepal, especially at Mount Everest - which attracts thousands of visitors every year to conquer.
This spring climbing season began on March 30. Authorities said the scam involved many individuals in the climbing ecosystem, including Sherpa guides, climbing company owners, helicopter operators and hospital directors.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police said that the criminal acts have damaged "Nepal's national pride, prestige and dignity on the international stage".
This is not the first time a fake rescue network has been exposed, a 2018 Kathmandu Post investigation led to a 700-page report issued by the government, along with a promise of reform.
Reports from 2019 also detail that some foreign tourists colluded with mountaineering travel companies and pretended to be high-intensity drunk, needing helicopter rescue in exchange for cheap trips. Tourist insurance papers were checked before they were accepted on the trip to ensure that the helicopter company and their "agent" would be paid.
