Sherpas poisoning tourists so they can claim money from insurance companies

According to the Independent, Nepalese police have accused mountain sherpas on Mount Everest of orchestrating a scam to drug foreign climbers in order to induce the need for expensive air evacuations. According to investigators, this resulted in an insurance scam worth around USD 20 million.

The case involved a number of actors, including Sherpas, trekking and rescue operators, helicopter pilots and medical facilities.

Police have so far charged 32 people, with eleven arrested. The scam was said to have affected 4,782 mountaineers between 2022 and 2025 and involved more than 300 suspected rescues, for which the components charged compensation from insurance companies.

According to police, the guides used various methods to induce health problems, such as adding baking powder to food or administering medication with excessive amounts of water. Tourists subsequently experienced symptoms similar to altitude sickness and agreed to be evacuated by helicopter.

After the rescues, organizers had to falsify medical reports and flight records and charge insurance companies exorbitant costs, often as if each hiker had flown independently. Some hospitals were also supposed to issue fictitious treatment reports.

According to Nepal's Central Bureau of Investigation, the case has damaged the country's international reputation.

(max)