The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned a Mexico-based criminal organization and its leader on Thursday for smuggling thousands of migrants from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America into the United States.
The Bhardwaj Human Smuggling Organization, led by dual Indian-Mexican national Vikrant Bhardwaj, operated from Cancun using yachts, marinas, and a network of businesses across Mexico, India, and the UAE to facilitate illegal border crossings.
The sanctions freeze all U.S. assets of the organization, Bhardwaj, three associates, and 16 companies linked to the operation.
The network generated thousands of dollars per migrant while also trafficking drugs and laundering money through legitimate businesses.
“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 sophisticated operation transported migrants by air and sea to Cancun, housed them in hotels and hostels, and then coordinated their transport to the U.S.-Mexico border. The group worked with the previously sanctioned Hernandez Salas cartel and received support from Sinaloa Cartel employees.
Bhardwaj, who identifies as the CEO of multiple companies, had evaded law enforcement while profiting from smuggling and drug trafficking. His wife, Indu Rani, managed financial operations as a co-shareholder of several businesses.
Key associates included Jose German Valadez Flores, a businessman who bribed Mexican officials, and Jorge Alejandro Mendoza Villegas, a former police officer who used airport access to coordinate migrant arrivals.
The sanctioned companies spanned restaurants, real estate firms, yacht services, supermarkets, and energy trading operations across three countries. Treasury officials coordinated the action with Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA, and Mexico’s financial intelligence unit.
Violations of the sanctions can result in civil or criminal penalties for U.S. and foreign individuals.