Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit has frozen bank accounts belonging to Raúl Rocha Cantú, a Mexican co-owner of Miss Universe, as part of an investigation into alleged drug, fuel, and arms trafficking that began in November 2024. This action coincides with separate legal troubles for the organisation’s Thai co-owner Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip, including an arrest warrant for fraud, amid ongoing controversies surrounding the pageant.
Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit freezes accounts of Miss Universe co-owner amid organised crime probe. Mexico’s anti-money laundering office, the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), has frozen the bank accounts of Raúl Rocha Cantú, a Mexican businessman and co-owner of the Miss Universe organisation, as part of an ongoing investigation into organised crime activities. A federal official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment on the investigation, confirmed the action against Rocha Cantú’s accounts in Mexico.
The probe, which federal prosecutors state has been under way since November 2024, focuses on alleged involvement in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and fuel theft. Last month, a federal judge authorised 13 arrest warrants for individuals implicated in the case, including Rocha Cantú, whose company Legacy Holding Group USA owns 50 per cent of Miss Universe shares.
Financial Intelligence Unit Action
The country’s Financial Intelligence Unit, which oversees the fight against money laundering, took the step to freeze Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú’s bank accounts in Mexico. As reported by Fabiola Sanchez of the Associated Press in ABC News, a federal official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the investigation.
As detailed by the Associated Press in US News & World Report, the UIF confirmed to The Associated Press, on the condition of anonymity, that Rocha Cantú’s accounts in Mexico were frozen as part of the ongoing inquiry. Mexico’s anti-money laundering office has frozen the bank accounts of the Mexican co-owner of Miss Universe as part of an investigation into drugs, fuel and arms trafficking, an official said, according to Newsmax coverage.
NBC News reported that the bank accounts of Raúl Rocha Cantú, the Mexican co-owner of Miss Universe, have been frozen by the nation’s anti-money laundering agency amid an ongoing investigation into drug, fuel, and arms trafficking, an official disclosed on Friday. According to a federal official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, as they were not authorised to discuss the matter, the Financial Intelligence Unit took action against Rocha Cantú’s accounts in Mexico.
Philstar noted that Mexico has reportedly suspended the bank accounts of Raul Rocha, the president and co-owner of Miss Universe, as part of an ongoing criminal investigation related to drug, fuel, and arms trafficking, with the action taken by the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), Mexico’s anti-money laundering agency operating under the finance ministry.
Investigation Details
Mexico’s federal prosecutors said last week that Rocha Cantú has been under investigation since November 2024 for alleged organised crime activity, including drug and arms trafficking, as well as fuel theft. As reported by Fabiola Sanchez of the Associated Press in ABC News, last month, a federal judge issued 13 arrest warrants for some of those involved in the case, including the Mexican businessman.
The Associated Press in US News & World Report stated that federal prosecutors in Mexico stated last week that Rocha Cantú has been under scrutiny since November 2024 for suspected involvement in organised crime, which includes drugs and arms, as well as fuel. Newsmax coverage echoed that Mexico’s federal prosecutors said last week that Rocha Cantú has been under investigation since November 2024 for alleged organised crime activity, including drug and arms trafficking, as well as fuel theft, with a federal judge issuing 13 arrest warrants last month.
NBC News highlighted that the action against Raul Rocha Cantú adds to mounting controversies for the Miss Universe organisation. Philstar reported that according to Mexican federal prosecutors, Miss Universe president Raul Rocha has been under investigation since November last year for alleged organised crime activity, including fuel theft, drug smuggling, and arms trafficking, with a federal judge issuing an arrest warrant for Rocha last week, among 13 individuals implicated.
Sanctions & Enforcement Measures
The freezing of accounts represents a key step in sanctions & enforcement efforts by Mexican authorities to combat alleged money laundering linked to organised crime. The UIF’s intervention underscores broader sanctions & enforcement actions targeting financial flows suspected of supporting illicit activities.
Federal prosecutors’ issuance of arrest warrants forms part of coordinated sanctions & enforcement against networks involved in trafficking, with Rocha Cantú named among those targeted. These measures align with Mexico’s ongoing sanctions & enforcement framework to disrupt organised crime financing.
Miss Universe Ownership Structure
Rocha Cantú’s company, Legacy Holding Group USA, owns 50 per cent of the Miss Universe shares. The organisation’s other 50 per cent belongs to JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., a company owned by Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip, as reported by the Associated Press in ABC News.
HOLA! previously noted in January 2024 coverage that as of that time, Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú owns 50 per cent of Miss Universe. ABS-CBN reported that the federal prosecutor’s office in Mexico said Miss Universe co-owner, Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu, was under investigation for arms, drug, and fuel trafficking.hola+1
Thai Co-Owner’s Legal Issues
The action against Rocha Cantú adds to mounting controversies for the Miss Universe organisation. Last week, a court in Thailand issued an arrest warrant for the Thai co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization in connection with a fraud case, according to Fabiola Sanchez of the Associated Press in ABC News.
NBC News reported that a court in Thailand said on 27 November that it had issued an arrest warrant for Jakkaphong ‘Anne’ Jakrajutatip, a co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization. Al Jazeera covered that an arrest warrant was issued for missing Thai mogul Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, as co-owner investigated in Mexico.
The Guardian stated that Raúl Rocha Cantú is under investigation for drug, gun and fuel trafficking while Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip is accused of fraud. A Thai court last week issued an arrest warrant for Jakrajutatip who was released on bail in 2023 on the fraud case; she failed to appear as required in a Bangkok court on 25 November, and since she did not notify the court about her absence, she was deemed to be a flight risk, according to a statement from the Bangkok South District Court, as per ABC News. The court rescheduled her hearing for 26 December.
ABS-CBN noted that Miss Universe owners in Mexico and Thailand hit with fraud and trafficking claims.
Pageant Controversies
This year’s competition won by Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch — faced allegations of rigging. The Associated Press in ABC News and US News & World Report both mentioned that the competition faced accusations of manipulation. NBC News linked these issues to mounting controversies for the organisation.
Miss Universe Response
The Miss Universe organisation did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment about the allegations against Rocha Cantú, as reported by Fabiola Sanchez of the Associated Press.
Rocha Cantú’s Business History
Rocha Cantú was also a part owner of the Casino Royale in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey, when it was attacked in 2011 by a group of gunmen who entered it, doused gasoline and set it on fire, killing 52 people. Baltazar Saucedo Estrada, who was charged with planning the attack, was sentenced in July to 135 years in prison, according to ABC News coverage by the Associated Press.
Official Statements on Pageant Funding
Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, stated that there is currently no evidence linking the Miss Universe pageant funding to organised crime, as reported by Philstar.
This development highlights the intersection of business, entertainment, and law enforcement scrutiny in Mexico and beyond. Authorities continue their investigations, with no further updates on Rocha Cantú’s status or additional sanctions & enforcement actions at the time of reporting.