Kathmandu: According to reports by the 'Kathmandu Post', a group of Sherpas and tourism operators on Mount Everest are under investigation for allegedly poisoning climbers’ meals to trigger costly helicopter rescues, in what authorities describe as a $20 million insurance fraud scheme.

Nepalese police have reportedly charged 32 individuals, including trekking agency owners, helicopter operators, and hospital staff, with organised crime and fraud linked to the operation.

Investigators claim that some Sherpas, working alongside trekking companies, deliberately added substances such as baking soda to tourists’ food, causing severe gastrointestinal issues that resembled altitude sickness or food poisoning.

Once ill, tourists were allegedly pressured into agreeing to emergency helicopter evacuations, with authorities saying some operators submitted forged medical and flight documentation to claim insurance payouts from international travel providers.

The ill-gotten profits were reportedly shared among Sherpas, trekking agencies, helicopter companies, and hospitals, according to multiple reports.

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The investigation, which began in January, initially led to the arrest of six executives from three major mountain rescue firms. Findings suggest the groups collectively obtained at least $19.69 million through fraudulent claims.

One company is said to have faked 171 of 1,248 claimed rescues, securing over $10 million in illegitimate payments. A second firm allegedly fabricated 75 out of 471 rescues, claiming $8 million, while a third reportedly submitted 71 false claims worth more than $1 million.

Prosecutors are seeking fines totalling $11.3 million, with court officials noting the case is receiving high priority due to its high-profile nature.

The tourism sector in Nepal, which supports over one million jobs, has previously faced multiple scandals. Rising insurance fraud has prompted several international insurers to stop covering trekking tourists in the region.

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Despite government reforms in 2018 that removed intermediaries from emergency evacuations—placing responsibility on tour operators and requiring detailed reporting to the Department of Tourism—authorities say the scam persisted due to weak enforcement.

According to Manoj Kumar KC, chief of Nepal’s specialised organised crime unit, “Fraud continues to thrive when enforcement is inadequate, and this insurance scam is a direct consequence of limited punitive action,” as cited in various reports.