US Treasury Sanctions Mexico-Based Transnational Human Smuggling Ring Trafficking Thousands

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned the Bhardwaj Human Smuggling Organization (HSO), a transnational criminal group based in Cancun, Mexico, along with its leader Vikrant Bhardwaj, three associates, and 16 affiliated companies involved in human smuggling, drug trafficking, bribery, and money laundering. The Bhardwaj HSO allegedly smuggled thousands of migrants from Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Asia into the United States using a sophisticated pipeline involving yachts, marinas, hotels, and front businesses across Mexico, India, and the UAE, with connections to the Sinaloa Cartel. The organization exploited various transportation methods by air and sea, facilitating migration from countries considered national security threats to the U.S. The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets tied to the group and prohibit U.S. persons from conducting financial transactions with them. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley stated the Trump administration is committed to disrupting such networks to protect American security. These coordinated efforts involved collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA, and Mexican financial intelligence authorities.