Ricardo Salinas Pliego visits U.S. detention center and hints that ‘there is still room’

Ricardo Salinas Pliego turned a visit to New York’s Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn into a taunting message about people who, he suggested, might soon join those held there.

In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, the businessman said he wanted to check whether “reservations” for “two or three” people were still valid because, in his words, some people had yet to arrive. He joked that the facility was where people who misbehave end up, then said he was pleased to know that Nicolás Maduro, “El Mayo” and one of the Chapitos were there.

Salinas Pliego said he was especially glad to see Vladimir Sklarov at the detention center. He accused Sklarov of using the name of the prominent Astor family to defraud him of about $450 million. Addressing Sklarov, he said: “I hope you never leave the place.”

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Here is where people who behave badly end up. For now, I am very pleased to know that Maduro, ‘El Mayo’ and one of the Chapitos are here.

The businessman did not identify the people he expected to arrive. Some users online interpreted the remarks as a possible reference to Rubén Rocha Moya, Sinaloa’s governor on indefinite leave, and Senator Enrique Inzunza Cázarez.

That interpretation followed allegations previously made by U.S. authorities, who named Rocha Moya and Inzunza in an accusation involving alleged links to members of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Southern District of New York said several officials had allegedly conspired with cartel leaders to import large quantities of narcotics into the United States in exchange for political support and bribes. The allegations also named other current and former Sinaloa officials. Former DEA director Derek Maltz said he hoped Mexico would extradite Rocha to face U.S. justice, while Inzunza rejected the accusations.

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I hope you never leave the place.