- Nepalese police have uncovered an alleged $20m (£15m) insurance fraud scheme involving Mount Everest guides and rescue companies, affecting 4,782 international climbers between 2022 and 2025.
- The scam allegedly involved secretly drugging foreign climbers with substances like baking powder or uncooked chicken to induce symptoms resembling altitude sickness, triggering unnecessary and costly helicopter evacuations.
- Operators then inflated costs, billed multiple passengers as separate flights, and used forged medical and flight documents to claim large sums from international travel insurers, police say.
- So far, 32 people have been charged and 11 arrested following an investigation by Nepal Police's Central Investigation Bureau, including operators and managers from rescue companies.
- The scandal has led to new scrutiny over tour operators and guides as this year’s spring climbing season got underway on 30 March.
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