Lev Tahor members being sought by Guatemalan officials

CBCs the fifth estate has learned that the Guatemalan Interior Ministry in coordination with Interpol are trying to identify andlocate Lev Tahor members who arrived in Guatemala on March 4th.

According to the government source, Guatemalan officials were approached by Canadian authorities.

Six children and two adult members ofthe ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect have consulted a lawyer about seeking asylum in Guatemala, the fifth estate has confirmed.

They are now staying in the tourist town ofPanajachel, a few hours west of Guatemala City.

It is the latest development in an international effort to find children from families in thecontroversial sect and place them in foster care.

Last week, other members of Lev Tahorwere forced to return to Canada after fleeing to Trinidad and Tobago.

That group, consisting of six children and three adults, aroused the suspicion of Trinidad and Tobago immigration authorities, the countrys Attorney General Anand Ramlogan told CBC News.

Border agents prevented the group from continuing their travelto Central Americaand contacted Canadas JusticeMinistry.

Thats when authorities in Trinidad learned that some Lev Tahor members were subject toa child protection order that was issued in Quebec.

They also learned of a pending case before the Ontario Court of Appeal, where last monthan Ontario court ruled to uphold a Quebecs courts decision that 13 children be placed with foster families.