Maracaibo, Venezuela — Nearly a year after the ousting of Nicolás Maduro in a U.S.-backed operation, the new government in Caracas has begun dividing the assets of José Enrique Rincón, a prominent Venezuelan shrimp magnate currently held in prison. Rincón’s Grupo Lamar, once the country’s leading exporter of farmed shrimp and valued at around $700 million, was seized by the Maduro regime in late 2024. Following his return from exile in Panama this past June, Rincón was arrested and remains detained under charges widely viewed by his family as politically motivated.
Rincón, 62, is held in a small cell at the Rodeo I prison near Caracas, where his relatives report that his health has deteriorated, citing weight loss and untreated cardiac problems. His sister, Mariana Rincón, who is the only family member permitted to visit him, has described the ordeal as a “long horror film.” She and others contend that the government fabricated accusations of treason and terrorism to legitimize the expropriation of his company.
Since its seizure, Grupo Lamar has been placed under the management of Miller Holding, a Turkish firm operating several Venezuelan assets including cement factories and coffee businesses. The company’s CEO, 29-year-old Turhan Mildon, recently made headlines by marrying Alina Habba, former personal attorney to President Donald Trump, in a ceremony attended by notable U.S. officials such as FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Todd Blanche. Although Miller Holding oversees Lamar’s shrimp operations, a spokeswoman for the company has stated that it does not hold ownership of the facilities.
The continuation of asset seizures and politically charged incarcerations under the interim Venezuelan leadership, which includes figures aligned with U.S. authorities following Maduro’s removal, reflects entrenched patterns established during nearly three decades of leftist governance. These practices persist despite public commitments to reform and transparency. The Maduro government’s expropriations have encompassed a wide array of properties, from agricultural land to industrial enterprises, many of which remain under state control.
In November 2024, Diosdado Cabello, then Maduro’s top security official, publicly accused Rincón of financing opposition groups and conspiring against the regime, though no evidence was presented. Following these allegations, Rincón’s associates and relatives fled Venezuela, and government forces took control of his company’s assets.
After the U.S.-led operation on January 3, 2026, which resulted in Maduro’s capture on drug trafficking charges—a claim Maduro denies—Rincón believed conditions had improved enough for his return. Upon arrival at La Chinita International Airport near Maracaibo, he was immediately detained by Venezuelan investigative police. Efforts by his sister to involve local human rights organizations were hindered by an overwhelming caseload, placing Rincón on a waiting list with a registration number exceeding 1,600, highlighting ongoing concerns over arbitrary detentions in the country.
The Venezuelan Information Ministry and representatives of Miller Holding did not respond to requests for comment regarding the situation. A U.S. official noted that the Trump administration opposed Maduro-era expropriations and corruption, urging Venezuelan authorities to examine contracts awarded to foreign companies for potential sanctions violations or corrupt dealings.