In a dramatic and perilous operation spanning nearly 16 hours, US special forces veteran Bryan Stern and his Grey Bull Rescue Foundation successfully extracted Nobel laureate María Corina Machado from Venezuela. Stern, who described the mission as “the hardest, most high profile, most delicate operation we’ve conducted,” implored Machado not to return to her home country afterward, citing the risks to her safety.
Stern detailed the challenging circumstances of the nighttime extraction, revealing that Machado boarded a boat from the Venezuelan coast to meet him at a designated point at sea. This clandestine operation was fraught with danger due to Machado’s prominence as a political figure. Stern noted that her visibility made the mission riskier, as she was under surveillance from various intelligence agencies, including those of Venezuela and Cuba, especially following the international attention garnered by her Nobel Prize nomination.
Despite 800 successful operations under his belt that have rescued over 8,000 individuals, Stern stressed that this was the first mission involving someone with a Wikipedia page, highlighting the unique challenges posed by Machado’s notoriety.
After reaching safety on a separate vessel early Wednesday morning, Machado boarded a flight to Norway, where she was scheduled to accept her Nobel Peace Prize. Flight tracking data confirmed her arrival in Oslo, with a brief stop in Bangor, Maine. Notably, the Dutch Embassy in Caracas denied any involvement in facilitating her escape.
Upon her arrival in Oslo, Machado was warmly welcomed by supporters, marking her first public appearance in nearly a year. She had been in hiding since the Venezuelan government intensified efforts to stifle dissent after last year’s contentious election. Her appearance was particularly poignant as it followed her daughter accepting the award on her behalf.
Machado’s team chose to remain tight-lipped regarding the details of the extraction and did not confirm Grey Bull’s involvement. However, she did acknowledge past support from the US government, albeit without disclosing specifics due to concerns about safety.
Stern clarified that the operation was primarily funded by anonymous donors, and while he communicated with US military officials to ensure they were aware of their presence in the region, he maintained that there was no direct support from the US government.
Expressing concern about the potential repercussions of her return, Stern urged Machado to reconsider going back to Venezuela. “I begged her not to go back,” he recounted, emphasizing the potential risks of arrest or worse. He remarked on her dedication as a leader who genuinely wishes to support her people, underscoring the tough decisions she faces as an influential figure in Venezuela.
