Fresh controversy has unfolded around Miss Universe President Raul Rocha as a Mexican media report linked him to alleged drug, arms, and fuel smuggling operations spanning Guatemala and Mexico.
Reforma, a major newspaper in Mexico, was cited by People Magazine as the first to detail the accusations. The publication reported that Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FRG) views Rocha as an alleged figurehead of a network said to move fuel by boat through the Usumacinta River and onward by truck to Querétaro.
Before the allegations surfaced publicly, the FRG had already conducted raids on multiple properties, where investigators reportedly discovered financial records tied to Rocha. One document allegedly showed a contribution of 2.1 million Mexican pesos.
The issue intensified when Special Prosecutor’s Office agent Yazmín Mayoral Marín filed a request for an arrest warrant on August 6. According to Reforma’s reporting, the petition outlined organized crime charges tied to drug and firearms trafficking. The newspaper obtained the warrant, which stated that the supposed group Rocha is linked to 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.”
Reforma also reported that Rocha approached the FGR in October in an effort to negotiate a plea agreement, which included an offer to provide information in exchange for immunity. He has not issued a public statement responding to the new accusations.
These developments arrive on the heels of a turbulent 74th Miss Universe season marked by walkouts before coronation night, criticism over the final results, the resignation of the crowned queen, and claims of manipulation. Through the unrest, the Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo secured a 3rd runner-up finish.
Rocha previously addressed the pageant’s controversies and was reported to have expressed that he was “fed up” with the situation and considering selling the organization.
As the chaos surrounding the pageant continued, newly crowned Miss Universe Fatima Bosch of Mexico—chosen from a field of 120 contestants—responded on Instagram Stories to the online attacks she faced in the aftermath of her victory.
