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Machado's daring escape from Venezuela revealed
Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado was secretly extracted from her home country in a high-risk maritime operation involving disguises, two boats, and a flight to Oslo, the mission's organizer told the BBC.
Operation Golden Dynamite: A perilous journey
Dubbed Operation Golden Dynamite, the rescue unfolded over three days in early December, led by Bryan Stern, a former U.S. special forces operative and founder of the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation. Stern described the voyage as treacherous, with 10-foot waves, pitch-black conditions, and constant fear of mechanical failure or detection.
"The seas were rough. It was freezing, wet, and completely dark. We relied on flashlights to communicate," Stern said. "One engine failure, and we'd be swimming back to Venezuela."
The operation's name referenced Alfred Nobel's invention of dynamite and Machado's destination: Oslo, where she received the Nobel Peace Prize on Wednesday night. Her adult children, whom she hadn't seen in two years, greeted her at the ceremony.
Logistical challenges and secrecy
Grey Bull, which specializes in evacuations from conflict zones, had spent months establishing infrastructure in Venezuela and the Caribbean, including the nearby island of Aruba. However, Stern noted that none of these preparations were designed for someone as high-profile as Machado, whom he called "the second most popular person in Venezuela with a target on her back."
When first contacted by Machado's team in early December, Stern said the group initially concealed her identity but that he quickly deduced it. The rescue was the second attempt to extract her after an earlier plan collapsed. The team moved swiftly: Stern was briefed on a Friday, deployed on Sunday, and completed the mission by Tuesday.
Machado was transported by land to a coastal pickup point, where a small boat ferried her to a larger vessel. Stern's team took extensive precautions to conceal her identity, including disguising her appearance and masking her digital footprint to evade biometric tracking. "The threat is very real," Stern said. "We had to ensure her phone couldn't be traced."
Machado's resilience and future plans
Despite the grueling conditions, Stern praised Machado's composure. "She was soaked, freezing, and never complained," he said. "She accepted a jumper for warmth but asked for nothing else."
Machado, who had been in hiding since Venezuela's disputed 2024 elections and hadn't appeared publicly since January, has signaled her intent to return to Venezuela. Stern advised against it. "I told her, 'Don't go back. You're a mother. We need you,'" he said. "But I understand why she wants to. She's a hero to her people."
Funding and international coordination
The operation was privately funded by donors, with no involvement from the U.S. government, according to Stern. "We've never received a thank-you note from the U.S. government, let alone a dollar," he said. However, he acknowledged coordinating informally with intelligence and diplomatic services from multiple countries, including the U.S.
Grey Bull employed deception tactics to protect local collaborators in Venezuela. Stern explained that many helpers were unaware of their role in the operation, while others believed they knew the full story but were kept in the dark about critical details. "Some people did seemingly minor things that were mission-critical for us," he said.
Geopolitical context
The rescue comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly called for President Nicolás Maduro's removal, accusing his government of exporting narcotics and criminals to the U.S. Stern's comments hinted at broader preparations for potential conflict in Venezuela, including infrastructure to evacuate Americans and allies.
