KATHMANDU, JANUARY 25 In a major crackdown on organized tourism fraud, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has arrested six high-profile operators of travel and mountain rescue agencies on the charges of orchestrating a large-scale 'fake rescue' scam that allegedly defrauded international insurance companies of more than US$19.65 million. Addressing a press conference in Kathmandu, CIB Chief and Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Manoj Kumar KC said the arrests were made after the CIB obtained court-issued warrants based on an extensive investigation into fraudulent helicopter evacuation claims in Nepal's trekking sector. According to the CIB, the arrested individuals include Jayaram Rimal and Bibek Pandey of Mountain Rescue Service Pvt. Ltd., Rabindra Adhikari and Bibekraj Thapaliya of Nepal Charter Service Pvt. Ltd., and Mukti Pandey and Subhash KC of Everest Experience and Assistance Pvt. Ltd. All of them served as directors or senior managers of the respective companies. The CIB said the accused were involved in staging medical emergencies to justify costly helicopter evacuations, which were then falsely claimed from international travel insurance providers. 'The investigation has uncovered a well-organised network engaged in crimes against the national interest,' AIG KC said. CIB data show that Mountain Rescue Service Pvt. Ltd. conducted 1,248 rescues, of which 171 were allegedly fake, resulting in insurance claims exceeding $10.3 million. Similarly, Nepal Charter Service Pvt. Ltd. carried out 471 rescues, including 75 fake cases, claiming $8.2 million in insurance, while Everest Experience and Assistance Pvt. Ltd. was found to have conducted 601 rescues, with 71 fraudulent cases, involving insurance claims of $1.15 million. In total, investigators identified 317 fake rescues out of 2,320 operations, amounting to more than $19.65 million in fraudulent insurance claims. The suspects are being investigated under multiple charges, including organised crime, criminal profit (fraud and extortion), money laundering and offences against national interest, according to the CIB. Investigators said the scam involved collusion among trekking guides, helicopter operators and medical facilities. In several cases, trekkers suffering from minor altitude-related discomfort were allegedly pressured into helicopter evacuations. In other instances, multiple patients were transported on a single flight but billed separately to different insurance companies at full cost. Officials said further arrests could follow as the probe continues.