John K. Hurley, the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) | Official Website
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on the Bhardwaj Human Smuggling Organization (HSO), a criminal group based in Cancun, Mexico. The organization and its leader, Vikrant Bhardwaj, along with three other individuals and 16 companies, have been targeted for facilitating and profiting from human smuggling activities.
According to OFAC, the Bhardwaj HSO has transported thousands of migrants from Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Asia into the United States. In addition to human smuggling, the group is also involved in drug trafficking, bribery, and money laundering.
“At the direction of Secretary Bessent and President Trump, the Treasury Department is taking action to crack down on human smugglers,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley. “Today’s action, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, disrupts this network’s ability to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States. The Trump Administration will continue to target and dismantle terrorist transnational criminal organizations to protect the American people.”
The sanctions were issued under Executive Order 13581 as amended by Executive Order 13863. OFAC coordinated this effort with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Mexico’s financial intelligence unit.
The Bhardwaj HSO reportedly uses a variety of transportation methods—including air and sea—to move undocumented migrants into Mexico using its own yachts and marinas. Once in Cancun, migrants are housed before being sent to the U.S.-Mexico border through a corridor that includes Tapachula and Mexicali. The organization has collaborated with other criminal groups such as the Hernandez Salas TCO—designated by OFAC in June 2023—and receives operational support from members of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Human smuggling services provided by Bhardwaj HSO can cost thousands of dollars per person.
Vikrant Bhardwaj is described as a dual Indian-Mexican national who leads several businesses across Mexico, India, and the UAE that are allegedly used for laundering illicit proceeds. Other key figures include Jose German Valadez Flores—a businessman accused of bribing officials—and Jorge Alejandro Mendoza Villegas—a former police officer who facilitates airport operations for migrant arrivals.
Bhardwaj’s wife Indu Rani is also sanctioned for her involvement in financial operations related to these activities.
The sanctions extend to various companies associated with those designated individuals: real estate firms in India and UAE; an energy trading company; yachting service providers; supermarkets; construction firms; transportation businesses; reservation services; business support services; textile retailers; among others.
As a result of these actions, all property belonging to those designated that falls within U.S. jurisdiction is blocked. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting transactions involving any property or interests held by these individuals or entities unless authorized by OFAC.
Violations may lead to civil or criminal penalties for both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals involved in prohibited transactions.
“The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.”
Information about removal requests from sanction lists can be found through OFAC guidance on petitions for removal.
