Nepal travel executives arrested for scamming millions with fake mountain rescues

Authorities in Nepal say they have arrested six travel and mountain rescue executives accused of conducting fake rescues on the Himalayan nation’s high mountains to scam millions of dollars from international insurance companies. Nepal’s Central Investigation Bureau said Monday it had arrested six Nepali nationals from three different travel and mountain rescue operators last week, accusing them of submitting fake claims for close to $20 million between 2022 and 2025. Thousands of climbers come to Nepal every year to scale the highest Himalayan mountains, while tens of thousands more also come to hike the country's mountain trails. High altitude climbers are required to show proof of insurance covering helicopter rescue before they are issued climbing permits.