Raúl Rocha Cantú, the president and co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, is under investigation by Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FGR) for alleged involvement in a sprawling criminal network that traffics drugs, weapons, and fuel between Guatemala and Mexico.
The explosive news, reported by Mexican newspaper Reforma, comes just days after the 2025 Miss Universe pageant concluded amid its own controversies, including judge resignations, contestant disputes, and allegations of misconduct in scoring.
© Hector VivasAccording to Reforma, Rocha, who also serves as Guatemala’s consul in Mexico, is considered by the FGR to be a leader of a criminal organization that smuggles fuel via the Usumacinta River, moving it by boat and truck to Querétaro.
Investigators say his alleged network also traffics firearms from Guatemala, purportedly supplying criminal groups such as the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación and La Unión de Tepito.
© Medios y MediaOn August 6, Yazmín Mayoral Marín, an agent in Mexico’s Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime, requested an arrest warrant for Rocha, citing charges of organized crime tied to drug and firearm trafficking.
In raids on multiple residences, authorities reportedly discovered financial records linking Rocha to the criminal enterprise, including contributions totaling 2.1 million pesos.
© Joy MaloneThe FGR claims in the arrest warrant obtained by Reforma that Rocha’s alleged network maintains “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.”
Federal sources told Reforma that Rocha approached the FGR in October to negotiate a plea deal, offering information in exchange for immunity.
© Getty ImagesMiss Universe controversy:
The timing of the charges adds fuel to an already tumultuous Miss Universe season. On November 4, several contestants walked out of a pre-pageant event after executive Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly criticized Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch, who later won the crown, for allegedly refusing to participate in a promotional photo shoot.
© Thai News Pix/LightRocket via GeRocha subsequently sanctioned Itsaragrisil, barring him from involvement in the pageant. Days before the ceremony, musician Omar Harfouch resigned from the judging panel, alleging on social media that the Miss Universe Organization had assembled an “impromptu jury” to select 30 finalists before preliminary rounds.
Harfouch also claimed that a contestant had an affair with a selection committee member, prompting his resignation after requesting Rocha to be “transparent,” which Rocha allegedly refused.
© Hector VivasIn a November 24 interview with a Mexican journalist, Rocha expressed frustration with his ownership since acquiring the pageant in January 2024, saying he was “so fed up” and looking for someone to take over.
More about Raúl Rocha:
Rocha is a prominent businessman whose portfolio extends beyond beauty pageants. He owns Soluciones Gasíferas del Sur S.A. de C.V., a company with contracts with Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), which became a point of controversy following Bosch’s victory, given that she is the daughter of Bernardo Bosch, a longtime Pemex advisor.
© Medios y MediaRocha has previously faced scrutiny for his ties to casinos, including the 2011 Monterrey Casino Royale fire. Authorities allege that one of his properties was used to store fuel smuggled from Guatemala and that phone intercepts implicated him in network communications.
Despite these allegations, Rocha has denied involvement in the criminal activity. Speaking to EL PAÍS, he said, “It is completely false that I have an arrest warrant,” while acknowledging his business dealings with Pemex but denying any conflict with Miss Universe or the Bosch family.
© Roy RochlinRaúl Rocha now finds himself at the intersection of international beauty pageants, corporate power, and organized crime investigations, turning what was meant to be a glamorous Miss Universe season into a tangled legal and political scandal.
