Rafael Marquez Alvarez, known to the soccer world as Rafa Marquez, stands among 22 people being sanctioned for alleged ties to a drug trafficking organization, per the United States Treasury Department, according to the Associated Press.
In addition to the 22 people, 43 entities -- including a soccer team -- will be sanctioned. The trafficking organization was originally headed by a Raul Flores Hernandez, and this is the culmination of a multi-year investigation into the organization.
Marquez, who currently plays for Liga MX club Atlas and has played for Barcelona as well as several clubs in Mexico and for the New York Red Bulls in MLS, was cited as having a long-time relationship with Flores Hernandez.