KATHMANDU: Police have arrested a trekking company operator for allegedly being involved in a fake rescue scam that targeted foreign tourists to fraudulently claim insurance money.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police arrested Pasang Sherpa on Wednesday on charges of involvement in fraudulent helicopter rescues in Nepal’s trekking and mountaineering sector.
Fifty-year-old Sherpa, a resident of Solu Dudhkunda Municipality-1 in Solukhumbu, is the operator of Panorama Himalaya Trekking and Expedition Pvt. Ltd.
According to police, investigations have revealed the existence of an organized group that falsely reports health emergencies involving foreign trekkers in Nepal’s high Himalayan regions and then conducts unnecessary helicopter rescues to claim large insurance payouts.
Authorities said some rescue flight operators manipulated records by altering passenger and cargo details, preparing bills accordingly, and producing documents showing that the supposedly rescued tourists received treatment at hospitals in Kathmandu.
These documents were then used to claim substantial compensation from insurance companies, allowing those involved to obtain financial benefits illegally, police said.
Police also noted that the incident has tarnished Nepal’s international reputation after several foreign media outlets published reports highlighting the issue with headlines such as “A Scam on the Roof of the World” and “Stop Providing Cover to Tourists Travelling to Nepal.”
The controversy prompted authorities to launch a serious investigation due to its negative impact on Nepal’s tourism image.
According to investigators, the probe began after two foreign nationals reported in 2025 that a helicopter had been called without their permission during the Everest Base Camp trek and they were transported to Kathmandu. The tourists were allegedly admitted to a hospital and insurance claims were filed in their names.
Police initiated the investigation based on complaints received through online platforms.
The case has been registered under Section 51 of the National Penal Code 2017, which prohibits acts against national interest, and the Organized Crime Prevention Act 2013. Authorities obtained permission from the Kathmandu District Court to proceed with the investigation.
So far, police have arrested 10 individuals, including operators of trekking and rescue companies, hospital representatives, Nepal-based agents of foreign insurance companies, and shareholders and operators of helicopter companies.
Police spokesperson Shiva Kumar Shrestha said further investigation into the case is ongoing.
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