The victims of the scheme were tourists on trekking routes in the Everest area. According to the investigation, the company's guides intentionally mixed substances into the food that caused acute malaise - gastrointestinal upset, nausea and weakness, simulating the symptoms of altitude sickness, TASS reports.
After that, tourists were urgently evacuated by expensive helicopter flights "to save their lives." In hospitals, doctors associated with fraudsters falsified diagnoses and prescribed unnecessary treatment in order to receive insurance payments.
There are 32 suspects in the case - owners and guides of travel agencies, helicopter operators and doctors.
Fraud is recognized as one of the largest in Nepal's tourism sector and can negatively affect the reputation of the country and its tourism industry, which is the main source of foreign currency.
