Belize Detains Foreigners Wanted for Crimes in Guatemala

Belizean immigration officials have detained two Americans and one Canadian wanted in Guatemala for offences against minors.

The men allegedly entered Belize illegally just before their scheduled court appearance.

“I’m not aware of them travelling with minors, but I know that yes, they are detained, and the matter is currently being looked into by immigration and police,” Williams stated. Reports suggest they may be linked to the controversial Lev Tahor sect, but Commissioner of Police Chester Williams stated there is no confirmation of this connection.

Late last year, Al Jazeera reported that Guatemalan authorities rescued 160 children and 40 women from the Lev Tahor sect following allegations of severe abuse, including rape, forced marriages, and human trafficking. The operation took place in Oratorio, about 78 kilometres southeast of Guatemala City.

According to prosecutor Nancy Paiz from the Office Against Human Trafficking, medical examinations and testimonies confirmed cases of forced marriages and other forms of abuse. The Attorney General’s Office also reported the discovery of a child’s remains during the raid.

Lev Tahor, a fundamentalist Jewish sect founded in Israel in 1988, has faced numerous allegations of kidnapping, child marriage, and physical abuse. The Guatemalan Jewish Community has publicly distanced itself from the group and expressed support for authorities in their efforts to protect vulnerable individuals.