US Treasury Sanctions Sierra Leone National for Migrant Smuggling

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on Thursday against a national from Sierra Leone for allegedly smuggling thousands of migrants from Asia and Africa into the United States.

The network, allegedly run by Abdul Karim Conteh, provided fraudulent documentation and transported migrants to the border while offering advice regarding illegal border crossing methods, the Treasury said. The ring network is also alleged to have moved some migrants through Nicaragua, as the Central American country has been utilized as a transit point for migrant smuggling operations due to its lenient visa requirements.

Customers of the alleged smuggling ring originated from over a dozen countries, including China, Iran, Russia, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria.

Karim Conteh was arrested on July 11 in Tijuana, Mexico. Also sanctioned on Thursday were his Mexican wife, Veronica Roblero, as well as two additional individuals from Sierra Leone and Togo.

Moving Forward

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which is responsible for implementing economic and trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals, has designated a transnational criminal organization that allegedly facilitated the illegal entry of thousands of migrants into the United States.

According to OFAC, the organization moved millions of dollars in proceeds from smuggling operations through the U.S. financial system. The sanctions issued by OFAC freeze any assets held by designated individuals and entities under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with them.