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- author, Ione Wells
- To roll, Correspondent in South America, from São Paulo, for BBC News
The rescue operation to expel opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado from Venezuela included disguises, two boats in rough seas and a theft, according to the man who claims to have led the process.
Dubbed “Operation Golden Dynamite,” the dangerous journey was long, cold and wet. But the “terrific” Machado didn’t complain once, according to Gray Bull Rescue Foundation founder Bryan Stern, a U.S. special forces veteran.
“The sea is very rough,” he said. “It’s completely dark. We use flashlights to communicate. It’s very scary, a lot of things can go wrong.”
Despite the risks, everything went well. Machado arrived safely in Oslo, Norway, to receive his Nobel Peace Prize shortly before midnight on Wednesday (12/10).
After living in hiding in her own country since last year’s controversial elections in Venezuela, Machado has not appeared in public since January. She had not seen her adult children, who were in Oslo to welcome her, for two years.
Gray Bull specializes in rescue and evacuation missions, particularly in conflict and disaster zones.
A representative for Machado’s team confirmed to CBS News, the BBC’s partner in the United States, that the organization was behind his rescue operation.
Stern explained that Gray Bull has for months been consolidating its presence in the Caribbean, particularly in Venezuela and the neighboring island of Aruba, preparing for possible operations in the South American country.
“We built infrastructure on Venezuelan territory, designed to expel the Americans, the allies, the British and other peoples, if war broke out in the country,” he told the BBC.
Speculation about possible US military action against Venezuela has grown after US President Donald Trump called on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to leave office. Trump accuses him of sending narcotics and murderers to the United States.
But in this case, the objective, according to Stern, was to eliminate from the country María Corina Machado, a very popular name in Venezuela among the opposition.
He claimed that the infrastructure his organization built in the country was “designed for the second most popular person in this damn country, with a target on his back.”
Credit, Lars Martin Hunstad/Bloomberg via Getty Images
When he first contacted Machado’s team, his identity was not initially revealed, but he says he managed to guess who it was.
They contacted Stern in early December, through a known contact on Machado’s team. Apparently, this was the second attempt to expel him from Venezuela, because the initial plan “did not work”, according to him.
The operation was named “Golden Dynamite” because “Alfred Nobel invented dynamite” and Machado was trying to travel to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Everything happened quickly. Stern says he spoke to the team on Friday (5/12), they left on Sunday (7/12), and by Tuesday (9/12) the mission was already accomplished.
His team explored several options for expelling Machado from the country and decided to adopt a plan that included a tumultuous sea voyage.
To protect his future work in Venezuela, Stern can only reveal a few details about his trip.
They transported Machado by land, from the house where she was hiding to the meeting point in a small boat, which took her to the coast, in a slightly larger boat, where she met him.
The journey took place in “very rough seas”, with waves up to three meters high, in “total darkness”, Stern said.
“The trip was not pleasant. It was cold, it rained a lot, we were wet and the waves were very strong, which we took advantage of. We took her to dry land, where her plane was, and she flew to Norway.”
Credit, Gray Bull Rescue Foundation
Throughout the trip, several measures were taken to hide and conceal Machado’s face and his “digital” profile, as he is a very well-known politician.
“The biometric threat is very real,” Stern stressed. He claims steps were taken to ensure she could not be located via her cell phone.
He said María Corina Machado’s behavior was “impressive”, despite the difficulties encountered during the trip. She accepted a coat for shelter when one was offered, but asked for nothing more.
“She was cold and wet, but she didn’t complain once,” he said with a laugh. He recognized that it was a very dangerous operation, because the water “was not forgiving”.
“If I’m driving a boat and the engine breaks down, I’ll have to swim to Venezuela,” he says.
Asked how he could guarantee the safety of the Venezuelans who helped in the operation, Stern said their identities remained confidential and that “we at Gray Bull conduct a lot of covert operations.”
Credit, Alyssa Joy/US Navy via Getty Images
Many of those he helped didn’t even realize they were working for him, according to Stern. Others think they “know the whole story,” but in reality, they don’t.
“There are people who have done good things from their point of view, but for us they have been fundamental to the mission.”
He claims the operation was financed by donors and not the US government.
“We never received a thank you note from the U.S. government, much less a dollar,” Stern said.
Stern assured that he had coordinated the operation with certain national states and with the diplomatic and intelligence services of several countries. This includes an “informal” warning for the United States.
Machado said his intention was to return to Venezuela, but Stern said he advised him not to do so.
“I told her, ‘Don’t come back. You’re a mother. We need you.'”
“She will do what she has to do…I understand why she wants to come back, because she is a hero to her people. I wish she wouldn’t come back, but I have a feeling she will.”
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