This Saturday, November 7 They released the Zulian businessman José Enrique Rincón who was held in the El Rodeo I penitentiary center. The man was linked to an alleged conspiracy called “Operation No Christmas.”
According to information confirmed by people close to Rincón, he “must appear before the court calls and until now there is no information about what will happen to his properties.”
It should be remembered that the Zulian businessman was detained on June 14 by officials of the Strategic Operations Group (GOES). The arrest of the founder and owner of the Lamar Group occurred at La Chinita International Airport in Maracaibo, when he arrived aboard a Copa Airlines flight from Panama.
José Enrique Rincón had a red alert from Interpol and a request issued by the Third Control Court of the Metropolitan Area of Caracas. He was linked to an alleged conspiracy called “Operation No Christmas.” Besides, He was charged with the crimes of conspiracy, treason, financing of terrorism, criminal association and delay or omission of duties.
José Enrique Rincón Case
The origin of the case dates back to November 23, 2024, when the Minister of the Interior and Justice, Diosdado Cabello, accused him of financing an alleged plot. This operation would have the purpose of destabilizing the country and preventing the presidential inauguration.
The minister also involved the businessman’s sons, Juan Diego and José Enrique Rincón Sabatino. Aspi as well as opposition leaders such as the former mayor of Maracaibo Rafael Ramírez, Juan Pablo and Tomás Guanipa and María Corina Machado.
As a consequence, on December 5, 2024, the authorities ordered the intervention of all its properties. They confiscated the shrimp farms, machinery and ordered the closure of their restaurants.
The Lamar Group, which once had 70% of the national production of marones and generated more than 200 million dollars annually, was dismantled. In December of that year, control of the company was left to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
By April 2025, a fire was recorded that devastated one of the main processing plants located in the San Francisco municipality, Zulia state. This caused the loss of thousands of jobs.
In November 2025, a Turkish conglomerate linked to Alex Saab was confirmed as an investor in the group and assumed control of the companies.
Reports about the Lamar Group indicate that Since the State took over the companies, shrimp exports have fallen by 98%.
Before the legal accusations, in 2024, the company exported between 200 and 240 containers per month of different species of shrimp. However, by 2026, those numbers dropped. Reports from the company Xia Caribe Mar CA, to which the company was awarded since November 2025, indicate that until August of this year, 34 containers were exported. This represents a 98% drop in less than two years.
Imprisonment of the Zulian businessman
José Enrique Rincón had been in exile in Spain and Panama; However, he voluntarily returned to the country in June 2026. He did so to stand up in court, prove their innocence and request the restitution of their companies. Despite this, he ended up imprisoned.
The 62-year-old businessman suffered a severe deterioration in health during his confinement in an isolated cell in El Rodeo I. He lost more than 11 kilos and presented cardiac complications derived from his medical history.
Due to a lack of medical care, he went on hunger strike in September in order to pressure his release. His release occurred after international media such as The Wall Street Journal exposed the contradictions of his case to international public opinion.
