Maria Corina Machado Flees Venezuela in Secret US-Led Rescue Operation
Maria Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader, escaped Venezuela through a daring nighttime operation led by Bryan Stern, a US special forces veteran and head of the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation. Machado had been in hiding since August 2024 due to fear of persecution by President Nicolás Maduro.
The escape involved a 13 to 14-hour sea crossing under challenging conditions, including rough seas and complete darkness without any lights to avoid detection. About two dozen individuals were directly involved in the covert mission.
The operation began on a Tuesday, four days prior to the sea crossing, with the goal of reaching an undisclosed location from which Machado could catch a plane. The mission was funded by a small number of generous donors and did not receive US government funding. However, Stern noted there was unofficial collaboration with the US military to help position the rescue team to avoid potential airstrikes, but no formal US government involvement was reported.
The Wall Street Journal detailed that Machado disguised herself with a wig to leave a hideout in a Caracas suburb. After the successful escape, she later appeared in Oslo to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
