In brief
Authorities have launched a serious investigation into Lev Tahor, uncovering disturbing allegations that could involve human trafficking, forced pregnancies, and abuse against minors.
Guatemalan officials conducted a significant raid on a compound linked to the Lev Tahor ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect, rescuing at least 160 minors believed to have been victims of human trafficking and other serious crimes. During a news conference, regional prosecutor Dimas Jiménez y Jiménez stated that while no arrests were made during the operation, various charges are being considered, including human trafficking, forced pregnancy, mistreatment of minors, and rape.“This raid follows alerts from four non-Guatemalan minors who escaped the community in November,” Jiménez y Jiménez explained. Their testimonies, coupled with medical examinations, provided sufficient evidence to substantiate claims of experiencing human trafficking.The operation unfolded early Friday morning, involving a contingent of around 480 personnel, including police, soldiers, prosecutors, and psychologists. They not only secured and removed the minors from the property but also seized electronic devices and conducted searches for any signs of child pornography as well as potential buried human remains.Special prosecutor Nancy Lorena Paiz García indicated that authorities uncovered buried bodies within the premises, although it remains unclear if the sect has utilized local cemeteries for those associated with the community. She stressed the need to investigate reports of possible deaths among minors.Lev Tahor has a history of controversy, having faced prior allegations related to child exploitation. Currently, approximately 500 members of the sect reside on a farm with restricted access in the Santa Rosa department, which is located near Guatemala’s border with Mexico. The investigation is continuing, with officials committed to uncovering the full extent of the crimes potentially committed within this secluded community.
