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The investigation determined that the organization used yachts, marinas, and hostels in Cancún to facilitate the transit of migrants before their transfer to the northern border, via a corridor connecting Tapachula, Cancún, and Mexicali.
Bhardwaj HSO maintained ties with the Hernández Salas criminal organization, also sanctioned by the Treasury in 2023, and with individuals linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, who provided logistical and operational support.
The Treasury identified José Germán Valadez Flores, a businessman and close collaborator of Bhardwaj, as responsible for bribing Mexican officials to facilitate the entry of migrants; and Jorge Alejandro Mendoza Villegas, a former police officer from Quintana Roo, who allegedly used his access to Cancún International Airport to coordinate the arrival and departure of people in an irregular situation.
Likewise, the leader's wife, Indu Rani, with dual Indian and Mexican nationality, was pointed out for participating in financial management and the creation of shell companies in Mexico, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
«The Department of the Treasury is taking action to dismantle this network's ability to illegally introduce immigrants into the United States,» Hurley stated.
Hurley highlighted that the sanctions were instructed by Secretary Bessent and President Donald Trump, and were carried out in coordination with U.S. agencies and Mexico's Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced this Monday the imposition of sanctions against the Bhardwaj Human Smuggling Organization (Bhardwaj HSO), a transnational criminal network based in Cancún, Quintana Roo.
The network's members are accused of illegally introducing thousands of migrants into the United States from Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Asia.
The measure includes the network's leader, Vikrant Bhardwaj, three other collaborators, and 16 companies linked to the group.
In addition to human trafficking, the organization is also involved in drug trafficking, bribery, and money laundering.
The U.S. Undersecretary of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, John K. Hurley, explained that the action aims to dismantle the network's financial and operational reach.
Among the 16 sanctioned companies are V and V Astillero S.A. de C.V., Operadora Turística Princesa S.A. de C.V., VNV Store S.A. de C.V., and Bhavishya Realcon Private Limited, which, according to OFAC, were used to launder money derived from illicit operations.
With the sanctions, all assets and interests of the designated individuals and companies in the United States are frozen and must be reported to the OFAC.
