Lev Tahor Member Arrested For Human Trafficking, Will Be Extradited To Mexico

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Guatemalan police arrested a member of the Lev Tahor cult over the weekend, who is wanted by Mexico for human trafficking.

Yoel Alter, 35, an Israeli citizen, was arrested near a government center for the care of minors in Guatemala City, the police confirmed. Currently, minors, children of the cult, are being held at the center after being separated from their parents due to abuse by the cult leaders.

Cult members have staged protests and clashed with the police in recent weeks over the separation of the minors. A total of 148 minors have been separated from their parents, as confirmed by the Guatemalan Attorney General’s office.

Alter, handcuffed and wearing the long robes adopted by the cult, was taken to court, and he will be extradited to Mexico in the coming days.

Earlier this year, El Salvador announced the arrest of cult member Jonathan Emanuel Cardona Castillo, a 23-year-old from El Salvador who was wanted on an international arrest warrant and had fled to El Salvador. He is accused of severe child abuse. Guatemalan authorities estimate that the group consists of 50 families, hailing from Guatemala, the United States, and Canada.

Authorities in Guatemala are holding 160 children and dozens of women in welfare facilities after it was discovered that they were being abused and starved. Young mothers are reportedly making their children starve to pressure authorities into releasing them, following instructions from cult leaders.

As previously published, on December 20, 2024, Guatemalan authorities raided the Lev Tahor compound in San Rosa, located about 90 kilometers from Guatemala City, due to reports of abuse, and rescued at least 160 minors and 40 women, who have since been placed in welfare facilities after enduring abuse, starvation, and neglect by the cult members.