Seventeen minors connected to the Lev Tahor cult were rescued by Colombian authorities this week, after investigators discovered the children in a hotel in Yarumal, a rural municipality in northwestern Colombia. The dramatic operation was carried out Sunday by Colombia’s Army Anti-Kidnapping Unit together with immigration officials, amid fears that the group had entered the country to establish a new base and continue illegal activity linked to severe abuse of children.

According to Colombian officials, the minors — from the United States, Canada, and Guatemala — were traveling with seven Lev Tahor families who allegedly entered the country from New York on October 22 and 23. Authorities say that among the children were five with active Interpol yellow notices, typically issued for missing or endangered minors who may be victims of crimes such as kidnapping, trafficking, or exploitation.

Colombia’s government made clear that the rescue was part of an ongoing international effort to halt Lev Tahor’s cross-border movements. A statement from the national immigration authority cited alerts from multiple countries — including the United States and Guatemala — tying members of the cult to crimes against minors, including prior convictions for kidnapping and child exploitation. Officials allege that the group was attempting to set up a new clandestine colony in Colombia.

“The priority is to guarantee the protection of these minors,” said Gloria Arriero, director of Migration Colombia. She confirmed that the children are now in the custody of child-welfare authorities, where they are being evaluated to determine whether they suffered abuse and whether there is evidence of trafficking.

Lev Tahor — known for extreme isolation, forced marriages, and harsh control over children — has faced legal issues for years, with dozens of investigations and arrests tied to physical and emotional abuse. The cult has repeatedly fled from country to country to avoid legal consequences, seeking areas with weak child-protection enforcement. Now, Colombian authorities say they are working in full coordination with the national child-welfare agency, the Attorney General’s office, and international partners to ensure the children remain protected and to determine the next steps for their care and safety.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)