The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on the criminal organization Karim HSO headed by Sierra Leonean national Abdul Karim Conteh.
Mexico-based Karim Hso has smuggled thousands of migrants into the United States from Africa, China, the Middle East, Russia, Central Asia and other jurisdictions. Abdul Karim plays a major role in the organization. His wife, Mexican national Veronica Robledo Pivaral, also plays various critical roles, ranging from transporting migrants to the US border to receiving payment for smuggling activities.
In addition to Abdul Karim Conteh and his wife, OFAC sanctioned Togolese national Pasaman Francis Marin Abbe Pidoukou and Sierra Leonean national Issa Kamara. Both members of the Karim HSO, they are responsible for facilitating the transport of migrants for the Karim HSO.
