Rafael Marquez Alvarez played in the 2018 FIFA World Cup as the captain of the Mexican national soccer team after he was sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury in August 2017 for “providing support to the narcotics trafficking activities of Raul Flores Hernandez” and the Flores drug trafficking organization. The US also sanctioned 20 other Mexican nationals and 41 companies in Mexico, including seven “linked to” Rafael Marquez Alvarez.

According to the designation statement, Rafael Marquez Alvarez, commonly known as Rafa Marquez, has a longstanding relationship with Flores Hernandez and has acted as the narcotics trafficker’s “front person.” 

Mauricio Heredia Horner and Marco Antonio Fregoso Gonzalez were also sanctioned for acting for or on behalf of Rafa Marquez.