The Venezuelan government has claimed the owner of the South American nation’s largest shrimp-farming firm was involved in a plot to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro.
Venezuela Interior and Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello said in a recent press conference that he had infiltrated and dismantled a plot to overthrow the president, claiming the plot was headed by opposition leader María Corina Machado and involved José Enrique Rincón – the owner of Venezuela’s largest shrimp-farming firm Grupo Lamar – as well as his sons Juan Diego and José Enrique.
“[Rincón has] direct links … with the terrorist María Corina Machado … and a significant number of others. They are all identified,” Cabello said in a broadcast on the state channel VTV, but did not name others as the case is ongoing.
According to Cabello, Rincón met and recruited judges, prosecutors, businessmen, retired military officials, and others to participate in the “No to Christmas” operation, which he said entailed the delivery of weapons to people detained in the country’s prisons and other actions intended to destabilize the country to overthrow the government.
The case is still under investigation, and companies are actively being raided, the minister reported, without providing further details.
Following his statement, a government resolution led to the appointment of an administrative board – chaired by the country’s minister of fisheries and aquaculture and comprising six members – to temporarily occupy Grupo Lamar “to guarantee production and availability of aquaculture feed.”
Rincón and his sons have fled ...
