In brief
A raid by Guatemalan officials on a compound linked to the Lev Tahor sect has led to the rescue of at least 160 minors believed to be victims of human trafficking. Investigations began after reports from four runaway minors prompted the crackdown, with authorities exploring allegations of forced pregnancies and mistreatment, while also discovering buried bodies on the premises.
In a significant operation, Guatemalan authorities conducted a raid on Friday at a compound owned by the ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect, Lev Tahor, which has been under scrutiny for human trafficking and child exploitation. Officials reported rescuing at least 160 children and teenagers believed to be victims of various crimes including human trafficking. Regional prosecutor Dimas Jiménez y Jiménez announced that while there were no arrests during the raid, the authorities are examining charges that could include human trafficking, rape, forced pregnancy, and mistreatment of minors. He indicated that investigations are focusing on potential offenses carried out by members within the community. The raid was prompted by alarming reports from four minors who escaped the sect last month. Their testimonies, along with medical examinations confirming instances of human trafficking, bolstered the decision to act. Special prosecutor Nancy Lorena Paiz García stated that security forces, which included nearly 480 police officers, soldiers, and psychologists, were deployed to ensure the minors’ safety and to secure the site. During the operation, law enforcement officials seized multiple electronic devices and searched for evidence of child pornography. Concerns arose regarding potential burial sites within the compound, with authorities indicating that there may be cases of unexplained deaths among minors that require further investigation.This operation marks a continued effort by Guatemalan authorities to investigate the isolated Lev Tahor community, which consists of about 500 members living in a heavily secured environment in the Santa Rosa department, situated near the Mexico-Guatemala border.
