The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned the Abdul Karim Conteh Human Smuggling Organization (Karim HSO), a transnational criminal organization based in Tijuana, Mexico. This action, coordinated with partners in the U.S. and Mexico, aims to disrupt the organization's finances and operations.

"Today's action, in close partnership with our U.S. and international partners, disrupts the ability of those seeking to exploit and endanger desperate individuals in search of a better life for themselves and their loved ones," stated Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "Treasury, as part of the Administration’s effort to address the crisis on our Southwest border, remains committed to using our tools to degrade the ability of groups like the Karim HSO to engage in these illicit operations."

The operation involved multiple agencies including OFAC, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, various units within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.

The Karim HSO has been smuggling migrants into the United States in violation of immigration laws while leveraging fraudulent documents and utilizing financial systems for payments related to their operations. The organization has regional and global reach, coordinating migrant movements through countries such as Nicaragua.

Abdul Karim Conteh (Karim), leader of Karim HSO, is responsible for smuggling thousands from diverse regions including Africa, China, and Central Asia into the United States. His wife Veronica Roblero Pivaral plays significant roles within the organization.

OFAC also sanctioned Togolese national Pasaman Francis Marin Abbe Pidoukou (Pasaman) and Sierra Leonean national Issa Kamara (Issa), both involved in facilitating migrant transport.

This sanction is pursuant to Executive Order 13581 as amended by Executive Order 13863 due to their involvement with a significant transnational criminal organization.

Previous actions by OFAC include sanctions against Tren de Aragua on July 11, 2024; Malas Mañas TCO on December 14, 2023; Hernandez Salas TCO on June 16, 2023; along with FinCEN alerts aimed at identifying transactions related to human smuggling.

As a result of these sanctions, all property under U.S. jurisdiction belonging to designated persons is blocked. Financial institutions engaging with these entities may face sanctions or enforcement actions.

OFAC emphasizes that its goal is not punitive but aimed at inducing positive behavioral changes among designated entities.

For more information on today's designations or removal processes from OFAC lists, refer to OFAC's resources online.

###