Operation Golden Dynamite: Inside Maria Corina Machado's Daring Escape from Venezuela to Accept Nobel Peace Prize

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado undertook a dangerous escape from Venezuela to accept her prestigious award in Oslo, facing constant surveillance and potential arrest from Venezuelan authorities.

Bryan Stern, founder of the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation and a US special forces veteran, revealed that Machado could not utilize conventional exit routes due to intense monitoring. This necessitated a high-risk extraction plan named "Operation Golden Dynamite" - a reference to Alfred Nobel's invention of dynamite and Machado's goal of reaching Oslo for her Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

According to Stern's account to the BBC, Machado had to don a disguise to avoid recognition before being discreetly transported to the coast. The most perilous phase involved navigating through rough, cold waters in complete darkness, with Machado transferring between vessels.

Stern described challenging conditions with waves reaching up to 10 feet in complete darkness. "The seas are very rough. It's pitch black. We're using flashlights to communicate. This is very scary, lots of things can go wrong," he explained.

Multiple security precautions protected Machado's identity during the operation. The team worked to conceal her face and eliminate her digital footprint. "The biometric threat is so real," Stern noted, adding that measures were implemented to prevent tracking via her mobile device.

After reaching a secure location, Machado boarded a flight out of the region, successfully completing the operation. Stern characterized the journey as "cold, wet and long," but emphasized that Machado maintained remarkable composure throughout the harsh conditions. "She was soaking wet and freezing cold and didn't complain once," he observed.

This successful extraction followed a previous failed attempt to move Machado out of Venezuela. Stern revealed that Machado's team contacted him in early December, with rapid execution - discussions occurred on Friday, the rescue team deployed by Sunday, and by Tuesday, the mission was successfully completed.

The team evaluated several escape routes before selecting a sea evacuation plan, which Stern indicated provided the best chance to evade Venezuelan security forces.

Stern also elaborated on measures taken to protect Venezuelans who assisted in the operation. He explained that helpers' identities remained confidential, with Grey Bull frequently employing deception tactics. Some participants were unaware they were part of the mission, while others believed they knew the complete plan when they actually didn't.

Machado has publicly accused Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro of fraudulently claiming victory in the July 2024 election, from which she was banned from participating. She received the Peace Prize for "her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy".