Grey Bull Rescue, a U.S. nonprofit, says it evacuated Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado last month so she could travel to Norway to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. Founder Bryan Stern described the risky extraction to NewsNation and compared it to the 1979 evacuation of the shah of Iran. Machado had reportedly been in hiding for about a year and was being actively sought by multiple intelligence services, which complicated the operation. The team used a safe house, vehicles and two fishing boats while avoiding phones to minimize detection.
How a U.S. Nonprofit Secretly Evacuated Maria Corina Machado to Accept the Nobel Peace Prize
How American nonprofit helped Maria Machado escape Venezuela
Grey Bull Rescue, a U.S.-based nonprofit known for high-risk extractions, says it helped Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado leave Venezuela last month so she could travel to Norway to accept the Nobel Peace Prize.
Operation Overview
The organization’s founder and chairman, Bryan Stern, told NewsNation he led the mission, which he described as the group’s most high-profile extraction since the 1979 evacuation of the shah of Iran.
“The mechanics of it were not that complicated. They weren’t, but her signature, who she is, was profound. This is the most high-profile extraction since the shah of Iran in 1979,” Stern said.
How the Evacuation Worked
According to Stern, Machado had been in hiding for about a year before the trip. To move her without detection, the team sheltered her in a safe house, concealed her in a vehicle, and then transferred her onto a fishing boat and a secondary vessel to depart Venezuelan waters. The team minimized electronic communications—avoiding phones and relying on in-person coordination and flashlights—to reduce the risk of interception.
Security Threats
Stern said the operation was complicated by intense interest from multiple state and nonstate actors. He singled out the Maduro regime and Venezuela’s SEBIN intelligence service, as well as foreign intelligence services and groups he said had been actively searching for Machado, increasing the danger to those involved.
While details remain sensitive, Grey Bull Rescue and Stern emphasized that careful planning and operational secrecy were central to safely moving Machado out of the country and onward to Norway.
Help us improve.
