GUATEMALA – Yoel Alter, a prominent leader of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish group Lev Tahor, was arrested in Guatemala following a coordinated operation led by Interpol. The arrest comes amid growing allegations of child abuse and human trafficking linked to the controversial cult.
The 35-year-old Alter was taken into custody in Guatemala after Mexico requested his extradition. He faces serious human trafficking charges in Mexico and appeared in a Guatemalan court, where he was detained. Alter is expected to be extradited to Mexico for trial in the near future.
Lev Tahor, founded in Israel in 1988, has long been under scrutiny for its involvement in child abuse, forced marriages of minors, and human trafficking. The cult has been operating in Guatemala and Mexico since 2014, with a history of controversial and criminal activities.
In December 2024, a major raid on Lev Tahor’s compound in the Santa Rosa region of Guatemala resulted in the rescue of 160 children and 40 women who were allegedly subjected to abuse by cult members. This operation followed a similar raid in 2022 in Chiapas, Mexico, where several children and young people were rescued and sent to Israel to reunite with their families.
While these rescue efforts have been praised, some cult members were released due to insufficient evidence, which has extended the investigation into Lev Tahor’s criminal activities.
Alter is set to face trial in Mexico for human trafficking, and authorities are continuing to investigate the cult’s widespread operations in Guatemala and Mexico. As the investigation unfolds, additional details are expected to emerge about the full extent of the cult’s activities and its impact on vulnerable individuals.