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$35m scam: Everest guides accused of poisoning climbers to force fake rescues

April 9th, 2026

Mount Everest guides have been accused of secretly drugging foreign climbers to trigger expensive aerial evacuations as part of a $35m NZD insurance fraud scheme, according to an investigation by the Nepali police. Operators of mountain rescue companies in Nepal have been arrested as part of the police operation, and a police spokesperson told The Independent that a total of 32 people have been charged and 11 arrests made so far.

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