Merve Berker
01 February 2025•Update: 02 February 2025
ANKARA
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.
