KATHMANDU, APRIL 3
The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police has expressed serious concern over reports alleging that some foreign tourists in the Everest region were deliberately poisoned as part of so-called "fake rescue" scams.
In a press release issued today, the CIB categorically denied such claims, stating that ongoing investigations have not found any evidence to support allegations of food poisoning being used to facilitate fraudulent rescue operations.
"We would like to state the fact that the investigation so far has not revealed any instance of toxic substances being adulterated in food," a statement issued by the supreme investigation body of Nepal read. "Misleading and untrue news has been published in national and international media, as well as on social media platforms, based on unverified content."
The CIB urged media organisations and the public to exercise caution and verify information before disseminating such sensitive claims, warning that misinformation could harm Nepal's tourism sector and create unnecessary panic among visitors.
The clarification comes amid ongoing investigations into alleged "fake rescue" scams in Nepal's trekking regions, particularly in the Everest area. In such schemes, some tour operators were accused of arranging unnecessary helicopter evacuations of tourists to claim insurance payouts.