Interpol issues red notice for leader of sect whose members stayed in BiH

(Patria) - The international police organization (Interpol) has issued a red notice for the leader of the Lev Tahor sect, Jonathan Emmanuel Cardon Castillo (23).

Castillo is wanted by Guatemala on charges including human trafficking, rape, and child abuse, according to Interpol's red notice, reports RSE.

About thirty members of the extreme Jewish sect Lev Tahor stayed in Bosnia and Herzegovina in late 2021 and early 2022. They also stayed in North Macedonia.

The BiH Service for Foreigners' Affairs announced at the time that it was a group of 37 citizens of the United States, Guatemala, and Canada.

The Service conducted surveillance due to a report from citizens who stated that the "group behaves and looks strange and dresses strangely. They don't talk to anyone, they are noisy and loud while performing some of their rituals".

The foreign nationals initially stayed in the Sarajevo Canton area, after which they settled in Istočno Sarajevo, the BiH Service for Foreigners' Affairs stated.

"Checks through official records determined that the individuals entered BiH during November 2021 and are staying in BiH under the visa-free stay provision," the statement said.

The competent security agencies conducted additional checks on the said individuals, including Interpol records, and at that time, they were not found to pose a security threat.

They left Bosnia and Herzegovina on February 3, 2022, after most members of the group's 90-day visa-free stay period in BiH expired.

Lev Tahor (Hebrew: pure heart) has about 250 members. They have strict rules regarding diet, dress, and religious rituals.

The group has faced multiple accusations of serious offenses since its founding in the 1980s.

Lev Tahor members have previously been convicted of child abduction, pedophilia, rape, and child marriage, and child abuse.

The sect is known to have members in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, and Israel.

The Associated Press (AP) confirmed that Jonathan Emmanuel Cardon Castillo is the leader of the sect, citing Guatemalan police and prosecutors.

Castillo is a citizen of Guatemala, where Lev Tahor is headquartered, and speaks Hebrew and Spanish, it is stated.

Guatemalan authorities raided the Lev Tahor complex on December 20, following reports of abuse, and took over 160 minors and 40 women into protective custody, AP reports.