Authorities in Kathmandu, Nepal have arrested a trekking company operator for his alleged role in a large-scale fake rescue scam targeting foreign tourists in the Himalayas.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police confirmed that Pasang Sherpa, 50, a resident of Solu Dudhkunda Municipality-1, Solukhumbu, and operator of Panorama Himalaya Trekking and Expedition Pvt. Ltd., was arrested Wednesday for involvement in fraudulent helicopter rescues.
Investigators say an organized group falsely reported health emergencies involving foreign trekkers in Nepal’s high Himalayan regions. Helicopter rescues were carried out unnecessarily, and documents were fabricated to claim large insurance payouts. Some operators reportedly manipulated flight and passenger records and provided hospital documentation in Kathmandu, which falsely showed that the tourists had received treatment. These records were then used to obtain substantial compensation from insurance companies.
Police noted that the scam has damaged Nepal’s international reputation. Foreign media reports described the controversy with headlines such as “A Scam on the Roof of the World” and “Stop Providing Cover to Tourists Travelling to Nepal,” prompting authorities to launch a serious investigation to protect the country’s tourism image.
The investigation began in 2025 after two foreign trekkers reported being airlifted to Kathmandu during their Everest Base Camp trek without consent. Insurance claims were allegedly filed in their names, triggering the probe. Complaints were received through online platforms.
The case has been registered under Section 51 of the National Penal Code 2017, covering acts against national interest, and the Organized Crime Prevention Act 2013. Police obtained authorization from the Kathmandu District Court to proceed.
So far, 10 individuals have been arrested, including trekking and rescue company operators, hospital representatives, Nepal-based agents of foreign insurance companies, and helicopter company shareholders. Police spokesperson Shiva Kumar Shrestha confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
