Poisoned Trekkers and Phantom Flights: Nepal Charges 32 in Massive Himalayan Rescue Scam

Authorities in Nepal charged 32 individuals over an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud in which trekking agencies, helicopter operators, and hospitals purportedly made tourists sick (e.g., by adding baking soda), forced emergency helicopter evacuations, and fabricated medical and flight documents to defraud international insurers of an estimated $19.7 million; prosecutors are seeking 1.51 billion NPR in fines and several suspects remain at large.