Cult leader arrested for allegedly administering dangerous mercury elixirs to 'manipulate' followers at sprawling compound

An alleged cult leader has been arrested after being accused of administering dangerous mercury elixirs to "manipulate the will of his followers" on his sprawling compound in Spain.

José Manuel Cánovas, 50, was arrested on Wednesday by Spain's National Police at his 24-acre compound in the Spanish town of Murcia. Cánovas faces charges of crimes against public health, moral integrity, and unlawful association.

Cánovas allegedly supplied his followers with a dangerous concoction containing "purified mercury." The reported cult leader gave his followers the toxic elixir of poisonous metal in an attempt to garner control over them, according the National Police.

"Using different techniques of coercive manipulation, including the administering of psychoactive substances dangerous to health, he sought to manipulate the will of his followers to gain power over them and for financial gain," Spain’s National Police said in a statement.

Some of his followers allegedly started suffering from symptoms of mercury poisoning – including feeling weak and experiencing memory issues and difficulties in speaking, hearing, or seeing.

"According to investigators, the sect followers who helped Mr[.] Cánovas in his work were affected by various symptoms, apparently caused by the neurotoxic effect of exposure to mercury," the Telegraph reported. "The police also noted that the detainee had no safe disposal method for the chemicals he used and was washing substances containing mercury into the site’s septic tank."

During the raid at the compound, law enforcement allegedly discovered cinnabar or mercury sulfide – the chief ore mineral of mercury. Investigators also found nearly 400 pounds of mercury.

The compound had several cave dwellings, warehouses, bunkers, temples, and a secret laboratory. Video taken by the National Police force shows hidden doors at the compound.

Police said many women in the reported cult had cut ties with their families. Some of the followers engaged in lengthy vows of silence. Authorities did not specify how many followers were in the purported cult.

Cánovas was the leader of a so-called Buddhist sect and head of the Mahasandhi Foundation. The spiritual organization allegedly had a goal of constructing the "biggest Buddha statue in Europe." Membership to the foundation reportedly costs more than $2,000 a year.

Cánovas reportedly traveled to India to learn from Buddhist lamas.

The alleged cult leader called himself Total Transcendence.

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