Bangladesh, March 24 -- For decades, the rugged trails and soaring summits of Nepal have attracted trekkers and climbers from around the globe, promising adventure, breathtaking scenery, and the thrill of conquering some of the worlds highest peaks. Yet behind the postcard-perfect image of the Himalayas, authorities now allege a deeply disturbing criminal enterprise-one that turned the very safety systems designed to protect tourists into tools for deception and profit.

In a sweeping crackdown, prosecutors have charged 32 individuals in what is being described as one of the largest organized fraud cases in Nepals tourism history. The charges, filed at the Kathmandu District Court, outline a sophisticated network involving trekking agenci...