Interpol issued an international arrest warrant for Lev Tahor cult member Jonathan Emmanuel Cardona Castillo, 23. A similar warrant was also issued in Guatemala, where he has been declared a fugitive.
The red notice was approved by the Guatemalan prosecutor's office and the National Civil Police. Cardona is accused of human trafficking, including sexual abuse of young cult members, forced marriages, and child abuse.
Cardona, originally from El Salvador, also holds Guatemalan citizenship. The search for him began after a police raid on the cult's facilities in Santa Rosa, Guatemala, where more than 200 children, teens, and women were rescued. The survivors are currently under the care of Guatemalan welfare authorities.
Speaking anonymously in an interview with the AP, some cult members confirmed that Cardona belonged to the group. They stated that he was expelled due to violent behavior towards other members, especially women and children.
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Meanwhile, cult members have posted videos on social media showing children being taken—some by force—to welfare facilities. One clip shows an adult handing out fruit to children and teens aboard a government bus in Guatemala. Some of the rescued children and teens have refused help from the Guatemalan authorities, claiming the "Zionists" are involved in the operation. One young boy, taken by welfare workers, shouted at them: "You're a Zionist, I won’t go with you, go away, leave me alone." These children are believed to have undergone "brainwashing" at the compound.
Lev Tahor members hand over fruit to rescued children
In addition, Guatemala's Ministry of Health announced that the Lev Tahor cult had not completed the necessary permits for a cemetery where cult members were buried. Human remains were discovered during the police raid. Authorities claim that the burial process had not been properly authorized, with permits required to prevent potential contamination risks.
The raid and rescue followed an incident on November 11, when four teenagers escaped from the compound, describing the horrific conditions they had lived under. "After hearing their testimonies and conducting medical exams, it became clear that human trafficking practices, such as forced marriages and related crimes, were indeed taking place," the prosecutor's office stated.