Hit By Controversy, Miss Universe Owners Dragged Into Allegations Of Arms And Drug Smuggling

JAKARTA - The Miss Universe contest is back in the spotlight, but this time it's not because of the contestants or the winners. The owner of this contest is facing serious legal dramas, including allegations of fraud in Thailand and investigations related to drug trafficking and weapons in Mexico, just days after the latest event was completed.

The Miss Universe contest previously owned by United States President Donald Trump is under the ownership of Thai conglomerate Anne Jakkaphong Jakramititip through her company, JKN Global since 2022.

Reporting from the Aljazeera page, Jakra milliontip is currently a fugitive in Thailand after failing to attend a court hearing in Bangkok this week over a legal dispute worth 30 million baht or Rp. 15.5 billion with a Global JKN investor.

The Bangkok Southern District Court announced an arrest warrant had been issued for Jakra milliontip on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, but its whereabouts are currently unknown, according to Thai media. Since 2023, Jakra milliontip and JKN Global have faced major financial problems.

The company is starting to fail to pay investors, according to the Associated Press report. In 2024, JKN Global submitted a request for rehabilitation to the Thai bankruptcy court, and reportedly had debts of around 3 billion baht or IDR 1.5 trillion.

Earlier this year, Jakra milliontip and JKN Global were also sanctioned by the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for issuing misinformation or misleading in the company's financial statements and fined 4 million baht or IDR 2 billion.

In a statement, the SEC said JKN Global did not fully disclose to investors that the company had signed an agreement in October 2023 to sell Miss Universe's 50 percent stake to Mexican businessman Ra Total Rocha Cantu, through his company, Legacy Holding Group USA Inc..

Jakra milliontip has resigned from all his posts at JKN Global, but is still a shareholder after the sanctions, according to AP. He was also not present at the latest Miss Universe contest to be held in Bangkok earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Cantu is facing separate legal problems in Mexico. According to a local AFP report, local prosecutors stated last Wednesday that he was being investigated on suspicion of arms trading, drugs, and fuel between Mexico and Guatemala. Prosecutors have accused 13 people of this case, although Cantu has not been officially named.

The Miss Universe contest season was over on November 21, but took place amid various scandals, including allegations that competitions were deliberately regulated.