Miss Universe Co-Owner's Financial Freeze Amid Trafficking Probe

Mexico's anti-money laundering office has frozen the bank accounts of Raúl Rocha Cantú, co-owner of Miss Universe, amid investigations into trafficking. The probe adds turmoil to Miss Universe, already facing fraud accusations. Rocha Cantú has a controversial past, linked to a deadly casino attack in 2011.

Mexico's anti-money laundering office has taken decisive action by freezing the bank accounts of Raúl Rocha Cantú, a Mexican co-owner of the Miss Universe pageant. This move is part of an ongoing investigation into various illegal activities, including drug, fuel, and arms trafficking.

The country's Financial Intelligence Unit, dedicated to combating money laundering, targeted Rocha Cantú's accounts, highlighting growing controversies surrounding the Miss Universe organization. The issues were further compounded when a Thai court issued an arrest warrant for Miss Universe's Thai co-owner, linked to a fraud case, raising questions about the pageant's integrity.

Cantú's past is marred by connections to the 2011 Casino Royale attack, resulting in 52 deaths, for which an accomplice was recently sentenced to 135 years. These developments cast a cloud over Miss Universe, with Cantú under investigation since 2024 for alleged organized crime.