Mexico's Raúl Rocha Cantú faces new arrest warrant over alleged money laundering

Mexico's Federal Prosecutor's Office (FGR) has filed a new arrest warrant for Raúl Rocha Cantú, the majority shareholder of the Miss Universe franchise. The warrant stems from a separate investigation into alleged money‑laundering activities, distinct from a 2025 case that linked him to organized crime, arms trafficking and fuel smuggling.

The investigation originates from a December 2 2025 complaint by the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), which identifies Rocha Cantú as the principal beneficiary and operator of a financial scheme that used companies, bank accounts and real‑estate purchases. Authorities cite the acquisition of properties worth roughly 7 million pesos and the seizure of about 500 bank accounts tied to the alleged network. Two other businessmen, Andrés Javier Vázquez Ruiz and Alberto Charlan Salazar, are also named in the probe. Rocha Cantú, who had previously lost a collaborator‑status benefit after failing to appear before investigators, remains a fugitive.

The new warrant reactivates his capture order, though officials have not confirmed whether the charge will be formally classified as money‑laundering. The case continues to be examined by the FGR and related judicial bodies.