Mexican authorities have frozen the bank accounts of Raúl Rocha Cantú, the Mexican businessman who owns half of the Miss Universe Organisation, as part of an ongoing federal investigation into organised criminal activity.

The nation’s Financial Intelligence Unit, the anti-money laundering arm of the finance ministry, acted on an instruction from federal prosecutors to block all accounts held by Rocha Cantú in Mexico while the inquiry continues.

The investigation, which prosecutors say has been under way since November 2024, centres on allegations that Rocha Cantú and others were involved in organised criminal activity including drug trafficking, arms trafficking and fuel theft, known locally as huachicol.

Federal authorities have indicated that the probe encompasses a network of individuals accused of coordinating these alleged illicit enterprises.

Although a federal judge issued thirteen arrest warrants last year, the legal process was later modified to allow Rocha Cantú to participate as a witness for prosecutors, known as a criterion of opportunity, without removing the ongoing financial restrictions on his assets.

Rocha Cantú’s Legacy Holding Group USA owns 50 per cent of the Miss Universe franchise, with the remainder held by the Thai media company JKN Global Group, led by Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip.

The freezing of Rocha Cantú’s assets adds to a series of legal challenges facing the global pageant, which has also been embroiled in separate legal controversies involving its Thai co-owner.

Mexican security officials have emphasised that the asset freeze is a targeted enforcement measure designed to prevent the dissipation of funds that could hinder the broader investigation.

The Miss Universe Organisation has not publicly commented on the actions taken against Rocha Cantú’s accounts.