Nepal Police Bust USD 20 Million Fake Rescue Scam, Six Tour Operators Arrested

• Nepal Police arrested six officials from tour operators and mountain rescue agencies in connection with a USD 20 million fake rescue insurance scam.
• The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) probe revealed fraudulent helicopter evacuation claims targeting international insurance companies.
• Arrested individuals include Jayaram Rimal, Bibek Pandey, Rabindra Adhikari, Bibekraj Thapaliya, Mukti Pandey, and Subhash KC, all directors or senior managers.
• Investigators found staged medical emergencies and inflated claims, with 317 fake rescues detected out of 2,320 operations.
• The scam involved collusion among trekking guides, helicopter operators, and medical facilities, damaging Nepal's international reputation.

Why It Matters: Nepal Police uncovered a massive USD 20 million fake rescue scam, arresting six tour operators for insurance fraud.