Guatemalan authorities have intensified their investigation
into Lev Tahor, a controversial Jewish sect accused of human trafficking and
child abuse, following the arrest of one of its senior members, according to
press reports.
Yoel Alter, 35, was detained earlier this week outside a
government-run center for minors in Guatemala City, according to the TRT World.
The arrest was carried out in coordination with Interpol,
and authorities confirmed that he is wanted in Mexico for human trafficking. He
is expected to be extradited soon.
The crackdown follows a major operation in Oratorio,
southeast of Guatemala City, where authorities separated 148 children from
their parents, citing severe abuse, including rape.
The children remain in protective custody while
investigations continue.
“Based on the statements of the complainants, the evidence
obtained, and the medical examinations, it was possible to establish that there
are forms of human trafficking against these minors, such as forced marriage,
abuse, and related crimes,” said Nancy Paiz, a prosecutor with Guatemala’s
Office Against Human Trafficking.
Authorities also accuse some of the group’s young mothers of
deliberately starving their children under orders from Lev Tahor leaders to
pressure the government.
Lev Tahor under global scrutiny
Founded in the 1980s in Israel, Lev Tahor has moved between
countries, including the US, Canada, and Latin America, in an effort to evade
law enforcement.
The sect has been accused of child marriages, trafficking,
and abuse, with several leaders arrested in recent years.
The Jewish Community of Guatemala has distanced itself from
Lev Tahor, supporting authorities in their efforts to “protect the lives and
integrity of minors and other vulnerable groups.”
Investigations into the sect’s activities are underway.
