Miss Universe co-owner charged with trafficking drugs, weapons. Who is Raúl Rocha Cantú?

The troubles for Raúl Rocha Cantú just keep growing.

After the Miss Universe 2025 contest witnessed a flurry of controversies, Cantú, the co-owner of the pageant, has now been charged with drug trafficking, weapons smuggling and fuelling crime in Mexico.

This, according to a report by the Mexican newspaper Reforma.

As per Reforma, citing federal sources, Rocha approached FGR in October to negotiate a plea bargain to trade information for immunity from prosecution.

But who is Rocha? What do we know about him and his legal troubles?

Let’s take a closer look

Who is Miss Universe co-owner Raúl Rocha?

Cantú is the president and co-owner of the Miss Universe Organisation. He is a prominent businessman with a major stake in the Miss Universe Organisation. However, his portfolio extends far beyond beauty pageants.

He has a substantial business portfolio in Mexico and is a highly successful entrepreneur. He is the founder and chairman of Legacy Holding Group USA, a real-estate-focused conglomerate. The Mexican tycoon is also actively involved in philanthropy.

What are the charges against him?

Reforma, in its bombshell report, claimed Cantú has been charged by the FRG with trafficking drugs, weapons and fuel between Guatemala and Mexico.

The FRG has alleged that the Mexican businessman is a leader of a criminal organisation that smuggles fuel in boats through the Usumacinta River and then in trucks to Querétaro, Mexico, as reported by Reforma.

A specialised Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime, on 6 August, had requested an arrest warrant for Rocha over crime charges for alleged involvement in drug and firearm trafficking, the report noted.

During the investigation, the FRG raided several residences, including one from where they alleged they had acquired records of money contributions from Rocha to a criminal enterprise.

The amount contributed, as reported by the Mexican newspaper, was alleged to be $114,000 (Rs 1.02 crore).

“Cantú’s alleged criminal enterprise has connections with politicians and authorities at all three levels of government to deliberately carry out their mission, which includes the sale of hydrocarbons, narcotics, and the trafficking and sale of large quantities of weapons of war,” the FRG claims in the arrest warrant, obtained by Reforma.

As per Reforma, citing federal sources, Cantú approached FGR in October to negotiate a plea bargain to trade information for immunity from prosecution.

What is Rocha saying?

The Mexican tycoon behind the Miss Universe Organisation has denied any involvement in criminal activity.

While speaking to the media outlet EL PAÍS, Rocha said, “It is completely false that I have an arrest warrant.”

Although he acknowledged his business activities with Pemex, he denied any conflict with Miss Universe or the Bosch family.

Miss Universe controversies

This comes days after Miss Universe crowned its 2025 winner, a contest that was marred by massive controversy, including a heated argument between a contestant and a pageant executive, and judges dropping out of the contest following allegations of misconduct with scoring.

The pageant is facing intense scrutiny after several contestants walked out of the event after pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly called out Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch, who later won the contest.

Bosch was criticised for allegedly refusing to participate in a promotional photoshoot. Rocha later sanctioned Itsaragrisil, restricting him from participating in the pageant. The 2025 Miss Universe contest has faced numerous controversies, including accusations of rigged judging, financial instability, and sudden leadership changes.

During an interview with a Mexican journalist on 24 November, Cantú showed frustration with his ownership since acquiring it in January 2024, stating that he was “so fed up” and looking for someone to take over.

With inputs from agencies