Cannes: Tony Parker to dine with Raúl Rocha, a figure in the Mexican cartels, at the Carlton Hotel

Drugs, weapons, fuel, money laundering: the Raúl Rocha case catches up with the Carlton!

Tony Parker is announced as one of the guests of honor at an event Fashion Connect organized the May 17th at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival. The visuals released for this evening set the tone: the former French basketball player appears in a prestigious communication, with a “Black and White” dress code, VIP guests, five-star decor and the promise of a glamorous evening in the heart of the Croisette.

But this poster poses a problem. Another guest announced for this event is Raúl Rocha, Mexican businessman, co-owner of Miss Universe, today at the center of a Mexican legal case involving organized crime, Mexican cartels, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, fuel trafficking and suspicions of money laundering.

Raúl Rocha, from Miss Universe glamour to organized crime investigations.

As a reminder, the controversial Raúl Rocha owns, through Legacy Holding Group USA, 50% of Miss Universe, with the other half belonging to JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd. His name is linked to an investigation opened in Mexico in November 2024 for alleged organized crime activities, including drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and fuel theft. The Mexican Financial Intelligence Unit, responsible for combating money laundering, has frozen his bank accounts as part of this investigation.

According to El PaísThe Mexican ministerial investigation accuses Raúl Rocha of belonging to an organized criminal group involved in arms trafficking, fuel smuggling, money laundering, and real estate fraud. The Spanish newspaper reports that Rocha allegedly played the role of financier for this group, with a presumed investment of at least five million pesosand that he allegedly participated in negotiations with gas station owners to distribute stolen fuel, huachicol.

Huachicol, CJNG, Unión Tepito: the heart of the Mexican issue

The fuel issue is central. Huachicol refers to the theft, smuggling, or illegal resale of fuel, a highly lucrative criminal market in Mexico. In the report by El PaísRaúl Rocha Cantú is presented as an alleged financial player in a fuel smuggling system imported mainly from Guatemala and the United States, then sold in Mexican distribution channels.

More serious still, El País The article states that the illicit activities attributed to Rocha Cantú are linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful cartels, as well as to La Unión Tepito, a criminal organization based in Mexico City. The same article specifies that the case involves arms trafficking, stolen fuel, and suspected money laundering.

The Mexican tax authorities also revoked the cooperating witness status granted to Raúl Rocha. According to El PaísThe public prosecutor justified the cancellation by citing the businessman's failure to appear in response to summonses from the courts and public security services, as well as a request from Pemex representatives who argued that Rocha did not meet the necessary conditions to retain his status. The tax authorities consider him to be outside the country and have requested a new arrest warrant for organized crime.

Money laundering and frozen accounts

Raúl Rocha's bank accounts were frozen after the identification of transactions considered to be “high risk” by the UIF, the Mexican anti-money laundering unit. These flows could be associated with money laundering operations or financing from arms trafficking, fuel trafficking or drug trafficking.

Investigators suspect Raúl Rocha of involvement in several illegal activities: smuggling fuel from Guatemala, trafficking weapons to various cartels, and possible involvement in drug trafficking operations. His background as a businessman active in casinos, private security, and entertainment may have facilitated the establishment of a system combining legal and illegal channels.

Paris, Monaco, Cannes: Raúl Rocha travels around Europe despite the Mexican case

Raúl Rocha's announced presence in Cannes follows other visits to European soil. He was spotted on 23 December in a luxury establishment in Paris, while he was facing criminal charges in Mexico for serious organized crime offenses. A federal arrest warrant had been issued in mid-November 2025, after several missed court summonses, and Mexican authorities believed he had evaded justice.

Last week, Raúl Rocha was spotted in Monaco, on the yacht Euphoria II, with Miss Universe, on the sidelines of a gala that looked more like an operation of image "whitening" than a fashion show.

The previous Casino Royale

Raúl Rocha's past also includes a particularly dark episode: the Casino Royale in Monterrey. Rocha was a co-owner of this casino when it was attacked in 2011 by a group of armed men. The assailants doused the premises with gasoline before setting it on fire. The attack left 52 people dead.

This precedent further adds to the unease surrounding his return to international social circles. In Cannes, Raúl Rocha arrives with extremely embarrassing baggage: the Miss Universe pageant tainted by cheating, huachicol, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, Mexican cartels, frozen accounts, an arrest warrant, his status as a cooperating witness revoked, and his movement in Europe despite Mexican prosecution.

Tony Parker on the same poster

In this context, Tony Parker's announced presence at the same event may seem surprising. Tony Parker is not facing any charges in this case. However, his image is being used to promote a Cannes party that also features a Mexican businessman implicated in organized crime, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, stolen fuel, and money laundering.

The question is: Is Tony Parker aware that his image is being used in Cannes and at the Carlton to give credibility and respectability to a figure of organized crime and Mexican cartels?

Do the organizers endorse the presence of Raúl Rocha? ?

The question is directed at the organizers of Fashion Connect. Are they aware of the Raúl Rocha case? Did they check their guest's criminal and media background? Did they inform the other announced guests, including Tony Parker, about the presence of a Mexican businessman implicated in investigations for organized crime, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, huachicol, and money laundering? At this level of event, ignorance would be difficult to defend.

How could the Carlton be the setting for this event?

The question also arises for the Carlton Hotel Cannes, whose name and image are associated with the event. Does the establishment know that it is hosting an event where Raúl Rocha, co-owner of Miss Universe, who is the target of an organized crime investigation in Mexico and cited in cases of drug trafficking, arms trafficking, fuel trafficking and money laundering, is scheduled to appear?

Because this luxury hotel provides much more than just a room. It offers a setting, an endorsement, prestige, and a reputation. The question is therefore simple: how can a hotel of this caliber condone the presence of a figure so heavily associated with international criminal cases?

A respectability operation in the midst of the Cannes Film Festival

As a reminder, the Cannes Film Festival attracts brands, the wealthy, influencers, producers, athletes, models, and celebrities seeking visibility every year. This is precisely what makes this event so special. In such a setting, an appearance at the Carlton, a photo with a star, a dinner with prestigious guests, or an appearance during the Festival can all contribute to building respectability.

This is the heart of the problem. When a businessman associated with organized crime accusations appears at such an event, the risk is that Cannes will become an accessory to a publicity stunt.

The red carpet should not cover legal matters.

The Carlton's invitation promises glamour, fashion, prestige, and an elegant evening. The Raúl Rocha press kit adds another layer: Mexican cartels, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, frozen accounts, and organized crime.

Tony Parker is not responsible for Raúl Rocha's legal troubles. But the organizers must answer for a choice: that of associating sports and social figures with an event featuring a man whose name is now linked to one of the most sensitive cases in Mexico.

As for the Carlton, it will hardly be able to avoid the question: did it know that it was lending its decor to an event hosting a figure associated with Mexican organized crime? And if it did know, how can it justify endorsing this?