Mexico City: The Miss Universe organisation is in big trouble after Mexico’s anti-money laundering office froze the bank accounts of its co-owner and businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú as part of an investigation into drugs, fuel and arms trafficking, as reported by the New Indian Express.
Last week, a court in Thailand issued an arrest warrant against the Thai co-owner of the organization in connection with a fraud case and this year’s competition – won by Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch – faced allegations of rigging.
An official in Mexico has apparently told the Associated Press that the country’s Financial Intelligence Unit, which oversees the fight against money laundering, froze Cantú’s bank accounts.
The Miss Universe organization did not immediately respond to an email from Associated Press, seeking a comment about the allegations against Cantú, it has been reported.
Mexico’s
federal prosecutors reportedly said last week that Cantú has been under investigation since November 2024 for alleged organized crime activity, including drug and arms trafficking, as well as fuel theft. Last month, a federal judge issued 13 arrest warrants for some of those involved in the case, including the Mexican businessman, whose company Legacy Holding Group USA owns 50% of the Miss Universe shares.
The organization’s other 50% reportedly belongs to JKN Global Group Public Co Ltd, a company owned by Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip. A Thai court issued an arrest warrant against Jakrajutatip last week. She was released on bail in 2023 in the fraud case. However, she failed to appear as required in a Bangkok court on November 25 and did not notify the court about her absence. She was hence deemed to be a flight risk, according to a statement from the Bangkok South District Court. The court rescheduled her hearing for Dec. 26.
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, it has been reported.