Everest guides have been accused of secretly drugging foreign climbers to trigger expensive air evacuations as part of a $20m (£15m) insurance fraud scheme, a Nepal police investigation has revealed.
A police spokesman said the operator of Nepal Mountain Rescue Company had been arrested as part of a police operation independent To date, 32 people have been charged and 11 arrested.
The scam appears to be large, affecting 4,782 international climbers between 2022 and 2025. Police said they had uncovered more than 300 cases of alleged false rescues, with fees collected from climbers and insurance companies totaling nearly $20 million.
The scandal has brought new scrutiny to tour operators and guides as this spring’s climbing season begins on March 30. Investigators said the scam involved multiple players in the trekking ecosystem, including Sherpas, trekking company owners, helicopter operators and hospital executives.
Six operators and managers from the rescue company were first arrested on January 25 for allegedly claiming insurance money by pretending to rescue foreign tourists who fell ill while hiking, police said.
These rescue companies managed to extract nearly $20 million in rescue costs from international insurance companies that were unnecessary or, in some cases, completely fabricated.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police said the crimes had caused damage to “Nepal’s national pride, prestige and international dignity”.
Investigators said the guides used a range of methods to force the helicopter to evacuate, including faking a medical emergency and adding large amounts of baking powder to the food to stimulate stomach upset often associated with altitude sickness. Others take medications containing too much water to trigger symptoms.
After hikers reported nausea, dizziness or body aches, they were advised to descend and agree to a costly emergency helicopter evacuation. The operator then used forged medical and flight documents to claim expenses from international travel insurance companies, authorities said.
Once the “rescue” is triggered, the operator charges each passenger as if they were on an individual helicopter flight, even if multiple people are flying together. Subsequently, falsified flight records and falsified medical documents were used to support inflated insurance claims, while hospitals produced false admission and treatment reports—in some cases, for tourists who did not actually receive care.
This is not the first time that a fake rescue network has been exposed kathmandu post The 2018 inquiry prompted the government to write a 700-page report and promise reforms.
However, the scam appears to continue. CIB chief Manoj Kumar KC told postal This is believed to be due to “lax punitive measures”.
“If action is not taken to combat crime, crime will flourish. As a result, insurance fraud will flourish as well.”
Travel insurance companies have previously threatened to cancel coverage in Nepal if the scams continue.
The 2019 report also detailed that some foreign tourists would connive with trekking companies, pretending to be suffering from severe mountain sickness and needing helicopter rescue in exchange for low-priced adventures. Their insurance documents are checked before they are accepted for travel to ensure the helicopter company and its “agents” get paid.
Meanwhile, some unsuspecting hikers were allegedly temporarily made ill by meals laced with baking soda, raw chicken and even rat droppings.
Simon Calder Travel Reporter independent” said: “Anyone who has been lucky enough to visit Nepal, meet amazing people and enjoy some of the best treks in the world will be shocked to learn about this scam – which we first exposed in 2019.
“The vast majority of individuals and organizations involved in Nepal’s tourism industry are honest and focused on providing the best possible experience. It is important to seek reliable advice before choosing a travel company.”
independent Nepal Tourism Board has been contacted for comment.
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