Colombia Rescues 17 Children from Lev Tahor Sect in Yarumal Amid Abuse Allegations & Interpol Notices

Colombia Rescues 17 Children from Lev Tahor Sect Amid Abuse Allegations

Colombian immigration authorities have successfully intervened, taking 17 children into protective custody after they were rescued from an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect. The group, known as Lev Tahor, has faced serious accusations of sexually abusing and kidnapping minors in various countries.

The Rescue Operation in Yarumal

The operation unfolded on Sunday during a hotel inspection in the small northwestern city of Yarumal. Gloria Esperanza Arriero, the director of Colombia's national immigration service, confirmed that her agency questioned nine adult members of the Lev Tahor sect during the intervention. Arriero stated that these adults are likely to be deported, as there are currently no arrest warrants for them within Colombia.

Sect's Presence and International Alerts

The group, comprising the 17 children and nine adults, had arrived in Colombia during the final week of October. Their stay in the Yarumal hotel was temporary as they reportedly sought a suitable rural property to establish a new community site within the South American nation.

A crucial element prompting the intervention were local tips combined with active Interpol yellow notices. Arriero specifically noted that five of the children within the group, holding both American and Guatemalan passports, were subjects of these international alerts. Interpol yellow notices serve as global alerts for individuals reported missing or those believed to be victims of parental or criminal abduction, underscoring the urgency and gravity of the situation.