Grupo Lamar, at one point the largest producer of shrimp in Venezuela, has seen production plummet and confirmed its founder and president is on a hunger strike in a political prison.
The firm once accounted for as much as 80 percent of Venezuela’s shrimp production, and in 2023, the company told SeafoodSource it was thriving despite the political and economic challenges faced by the country. At that time, the company was aiming for 60,000 metric tons (MT) of shrimp production.
Those aspirations were dashed by the Venezuela government in late 2024, which accused Grupo Lamar President and Founder José Enrique Rincón of plotting to overthrow Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro, claiming the company’s ownership had ties with “terrorist María Corina Machado.” Rincón and his sons fled the country in response to the accusations, but Rincón voluntarily returned to the country “to face completely unfounded accusations,” the company said.
“His sole purpose was to clear his name and protect our company, our employees, and his legacy,” Grupo Lamar said. “However, instead of a fair legal process, he has been unjustly imprisoned in Rodeo I prison, while his life's work continues to be destroyed by third parties.”
The situation has been complicated by U.S. military action in the country, which overthrew Maduro in January 2026. Acting Venezuela President Delcy Rodriguez maintains Maduro is still the active leader, and the political situation is still unstable, according to major news outlets.
According to a post on Grupo Lamar’s LinkedIn, since the accusations by Maduro, the company has seen its export production plunge by 95 percent, and more than 9,000 people who worked for the company have lost their jobs.
“José Enrique Rincón is a man of integrity who has dedicated decades to building and strengthening the aquaculture sector,” Grupo Lamar said. “We share this message to make this profound injustice visible, demand his immediate release, and make an urgent call for the restoration of the rule of law in order to continue participating in the recovery and growth of Venezuela.”
José Enrique’s son, Jose Rincon, said his father returned to “fight for his life’s work and legacy” and that he was unjustly imprisoned as soon as he returned. He said his father has now begun a hunger strike at the prison.
“I post this to bring awareness to this injustice that has not only affected him and our family but also the 9,000 people who have already lost their jobs and the family members who depended on them,” Jose Rincon said.
