U.S. Veteran Leads Covert Operation to Rescue Venezuelan Opposition Leader for Nobel Ceremony
OSLO, Norway — In a high-stakes covert operation, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was successfully extracted from hiding in Venezuela to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo. The mission, known as Operation Golden Dynamite, was orchestrated by Bryan Stern, a U.S. special forces veteran and founder of the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation, a Tampa-based organization specializing in high-risk rescues from conflict zones.
Machado, considered by the Venezuelan government under President Nicolás Maduro to be the “most wanted woman in the Western Hemisphere,” had been in hiding since Maduro’s disputed election victory last year. Her extraction involved a complex and multi-faceted plan that included deception tactics, disguises, and navigating treacherous seas to reach a safe landing site.
“She’s perceived by the Maduro regime the way we perceived Osama bin Laden, like that,” Stern told Fox News. “That level of manhunt if you will.” The operation required meticulous planning to obscure Machado’s physical and digital signatures and to create diversions on the ground to mislead Maduro’s security forces.
Despite the mission’s complexity, Stern emphasized that the U.S. government was not involved. His team had established a presence across the Caribbean, including Venezuela and the neighboring island of Aruba, to prepare for such operations in the region.
Machado’s journey from her residence to a beach extraction point was fraught with challenges. Stern’s team employed every possible tactic to conceal her identity and movements, including noise distractions and false signals designed to confuse hostile forces. The operation also faced natural obstacles such as choppy seas and mechanical issues, compounded by the presence of F-18 fighter jets flying overhead.
Once safely out of Venezuela, Machado was flown to Norway in time to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, a recognition of her efforts to promote democracy and human rights amid Venezuela’s ongoing political crisis. The Nobel Committee’s decision to honor Machado has drawn international attention to the country’s turmoil.
The Grey Bull Rescue Foundation, which has a history of conducting evacuations from disaster and conflict zones, demonstrated the capabilities of private organizations in executing sensitive missions without direct government involvement. According to the U.S. Department of State, such operations often require careful coordination and discretion to avoid escalating diplomatic tensions.
Machado’s extraction underscores the perilous conditions faced by opposition figures in Venezuela, where the Maduro regime has intensified crackdowns on dissent. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and other human rights organizations have documented widespread abuses and political repression in the country.
As Machado prepares to deliver her Nobel acceptance speech, the dramatic rescue highlights the lengths to which advocates for democracy will go to ensure their voices are heard on the global stage. The operation also raises questions about the role of private actors in international political conflicts and the ongoing struggle for freedom in Venezuela.
For more on international rescue operations and Venezuelan political developments, see the Central Intelligence Agency and United Nations reports on the region.
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