A covert rescue operation involving disguises, dangerous sea crossings, and international coordination helped Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado escape the country and reach Norway to receive her award, according to the man who led the mission.
The operation, known as Operation Golden Dynamite, was led by Bryan Stern, a former U.S. special forces veteran and founder of the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation. Speaking to the BBC, Stern described a perilous journey involving rough seas, darkness, and strict secrecy.
Machado had been living in hiding in Venezuela following disputed elections last year and had not appeared publicly for months. Her escape involved traveling by land to a coastal pickup point, transferring between two boats in turbulent waters, and eventually boarding a flight to Oslo. She arrived safely just before midnight on Wednesday, where she reunited with her children and accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.
Stern said Grey Bull had spent months building operational infrastructure across the Caribbean, including inside Venezuela and on the neighboring island of Aruba, to prepare for possible evacuations amid rising regional tensions. While Aruba was not directly involved in the extraction itself, its proximity played a role in broader regional preparedness.
Due to security concerns, Stern declined to share full operational details but confirmed that extensive measures were taken to disguise Machado’s identity and avoid biometric or digital tracking. He described her as calm and resilient throughout the journey, despite freezing temperatures and harsh sea conditions.
The rescue was funded by private donors, not the U.S. government, though Stern acknowledged informal coordination with multiple international intelligence and diplomatic services.
Machado has stated that she intends to return to Venezuela, a decision Stern strongly advised against, citing her safety. “She’s a hero to her people,” he said, “but the danger remains very real.”
Photo Credits : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g990exxq4o
