A humanitarian rescue foundation has admitted to helping Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado escape Venezuela and reach Europe, following months of preparation that reportedly included activities in Aruba.
According to reports citing BBC News, the organization Grey Bull Rescue Foundation confirmed that it spent several months preparing in both Venezuela and Aruba as part of a covert operation to extract Machado, who had been living in hiding after Venezuela’s widely disputed elections.
The operation, known as “Operation Golden Dynamite,” involved disguises, dangerous sea crossings using two boats in rough waters, and an international flight. The mission was led by Bryan Stern, a former U.S. special forces veteran and founder of Grey Bull Rescue Foundation.
Speaking to the BBC, Stern described the journey as extremely risky, with freezing temperatures, heavy waves, and complete darkness at sea. Despite the harsh conditions, he said Machado remained calm and did not complain throughout the ordeal. She arrived safely in Oslo, Norway, just before midnight to receive her Nobel Peace Prize.
Machado had been living in hiding in Venezuela for months and had not appeared in public since January. Her adult children, whom she had not seen in two years, were waiting for her in Oslo.
Grey Bull Rescue Foundation specializes in evacuation and rescue missions, particularly in conflict and disaster zones. A representative from Machado’s team confirmed to CBS News that the foundation was responsible for the operation.
Stern stated that Grey Bull had been building operational infrastructure across the Caribbean, including inside Venezuela and on the neighboring island of Aruba, to prepare for potential emergency evacuations amid growing regional tensions. He stressed that the mission was privately funded through donors and not financed by the U.S. government, although informal coordination took place with several international intelligence and diplomatic services.
Due to security concerns, Stern declined to disclose full operational details, but confirmed that extensive measures were taken to disguise Machado’s identity, including physical disguises and digital protection to avoid biometric tracking.
Meanwhile, Curaçao Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas publicly denied any involvement by his government in the operation. He stated that Curaçao was neither informed nor involved before or after the mission and described the lack of information from international partners as unacceptable. Pisas also contacted Dutch authorities and raised concerns in parliament regarding possible diplomatic and security implications for the island.
Machado has indicated her intention to eventually return to Venezuela, despite warnings from Stern, who advised against it due to ongoing security risks.
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