Nepal's police have charged 32 people with organised crime and fraud after a years-long investigation found that trekking guides, helicopter companies, and hospital executives colluded to manufacture fake medical emergencies on the slopes of Mount Everest and defraud international insurance companies of at least £15.2 million ($19.69 million).
The investigation, conducted by Nepal Police's Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), concluded with a 1,243-page report submitted to the District Government Attorney's Office. Charges were filed on 12 March 2026 against operators of trekking companies, helicopter firms, and physicians and administrators from multiple private hospitals in Kathmandu.
