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As a U.S. Special Forces veteran, Bryan Stern has seen his share of dangerous missions. But he knew trying to rescue María Corina Machado, one of the most recognizable faces in the Western Hemisphere, would present a new list of unique challenges.
Despite the hurdles, Stern and his band of gutsy military veterans pulled off a daring rescue, grabbing Machado from a boat in the dark of night in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. She was eventually flown safely to Oslo, Norway.
Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, had spent more than a year hiding out in Venezuela, trying to evade capture from President Nicolás Maduro’s regime. Machado ran against Maduro in a 2024 election and, according to international voting records, surpassed Maduro in votes by a significant margin. Maduro, however, refused to cede his position, going after the opposition party as his next target.
After winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Machado feared flying to Oslo to accept the award and risk being captured and detained by Maduro’s forces. That’s when Stern, founder of Grey Bull Rescue Foundation, decided to act. The former combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient brought his team together, planning Machado’s escape and rescue in one week. But while the organization has deployed to “more than 700 missions” since it began in 2021, this operation would be a bit more hectic.
“She’s the second most popular person in the Western Hemisphere after Maduro,” Stearn told NPR. “Because of that signature, that’s what made this operation very hard.”
One Daring Mission
In an ode to Peace Prize creator Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite, Stearn’s team dubbed the mission “Operation Golden Dynamite.”
They knew pursuing Machado by land wouldn’t work; she would likely be recognized quickly. The team chose the next best option – rescuing her by sea.
However, that plan also proved risky. With the U.S. military striking suspected narco-trafficking vessels the past few months, sinking about 27 boats and killing more than 90 people, Stearn knew they couldn’t use a similar-looking boat.
Stearn told NPR he talked with military officials about the rescue operation, so they knew the team would be in an area close to Venezuela. The former Special Ops soldier also picked a boat he knew wouldn’t be a target for the U.S. to hit.
“I didn’t want a big giant boat with big engines that could go fast and cut through waves,” he said. “That’s what the narcos use — and the U.S. military likes to blow them up.”
‘It’s Maria!’
The operation didn’t exactly go to plan. The boat carrying Machado from Venezuela to the Caribbean didn’t arrive at a predetermined location.
“We were supposed to meet in the middle, but when that couldn’t happen, we pivoted and went to them,” Stern said.
Nerves rattled, Stern’s team sailed on in almost total darkness. Ten-foot waves rocked the sides of the boat and, with lights shut off, the veterans used flashlights to cut through the thick, black night. Crews on both vessels feared the other boat could be hauling government agents or drug cartels.
“I could be Maduro’s guys, I could be cartel guys — anything really,” Stern said. “Everyone is skittish about approaching each other in the dead of night at sea. In 10-foot waves? This is scary stuff.”
Finally sailing to within earshot, a faint voice was heard cutting through the dark sea.
“It’s me — María!” Machado yelled.
Crew members pulled Machado aboard, and they sailed to an island, which Stern wouldn’t specify to NPR but is believed to be Curaçao, where a private plane was ready to transport Machado to Norway.
Machado, nicknamed the “Iron Lady” of Venezuela, impressed Stern with her steely resolve.
“She was tougher than the crusty veterans helping her escape,” he said. “We’re all bitching and moaning — it’s cold, it’s wet, we’re hungry, it’s dark. She didn’t complain once.”
Stern confessed to NPR that he was somewhat awed by being in Machado’s presence. He was well aware of her fight for democracy in her homeland for several years. Stern figured Machado had earned her moniker for not backing down from Maduro’s autocracy, but as he chatted with the Nobel laureate on that cold, wet ride to freedom, he realized there’s more to Machado than meets the eye.
“She’s gnarly,” he said, laughing. “Pretty awesome.”
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20 Comments
It’s remarkable that the rescue mission was able to be kept secret, given the high profile of Machado and the sensitivity of the operation, and it’s a testament to the skill and discretion of Stern and his team.
The story of María Corina Machado’s rescue is a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting human rights and democracy, and the role that organizations like Grey Bull Rescue Foundation play in helping those who are persecuted or oppressed.
The success of the rescue mission is a tribute to the skill and expertise of Stern and his team, who were able to execute a complex operation in a short amount of time, and with minimal risk to themselves and Machado.
The fact that María Corina Machado spent over a year hiding in Venezuela to evade capture from President Nicolás Maduro’s regime is a testament to the dangers she faced, and it’s commendable that Bryan Stern and his team were able to rescue her successfully.
It’s also noteworthy that Machado had surpassed Maduro in votes by a significant margin in the 2024 election, which highlights the regime’s reluctance to cede power.
I’m impressed by the selflessness of Bryan Stern and his team, who put themselves at risk to rescue Machado, and it’s a reminder that there are still people in the world who are willing to stand up for what is right, even in the face of danger or adversity.
I’m skeptical about the involvement of U.S. military officials in the rescue operation, and whether they provided any direct assistance to Stern’s team, given the sensitive nature of the mission.
I’m concerned about the potential consequences of the rescue mission for the people of Venezuela, and whether it could lead to further repression or retaliation from Maduro’s regime.
It’s concerning that Machado felt she had to fear flying to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, and that she required a rescue mission to ensure her safety, which highlights the extent of the threats she faced from Maduro’s regime.
It’s alarming that the U.S. military has sunk about 27 boats and killed over 90 people in their efforts to strike suspected narco-trafficking vessels, and it’s a wonder that Stern’s team was able to navigate this situation without incident.
The fact that the operation didn’t exactly go to plan, and that the team had to pivot when the boat carrying Machado didn’t arrive at the predetermined location, is a testament to their adaptability and quick thinking in high-pressure situations.
The fact that Machado is the second most popular person in the Western Hemisphere after Maduro makes her rescue even more remarkable, given the level of attention and scrutiny she would have faced if she had been captured.
The fact that Machado was flown safely to Oslo, Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize on Dec. 11 is a remarkable outcome, considering the risks involved in the rescue mission, and it’s a testament to the bravery of Stern and his team.
The use of a boat that wouldn’t be a target for the U.S. military was a clever tactic, and it’s interesting that Stern chose a vessel that wouldn’t draw attention to itself, in order to avoid any potential conflicts.
I’m curious about the planning process behind ‘Operation Golden Dynamite’, given that the team had only one week to organize the rescue mission, and how they managed to execute it without being detected by Maduro’s forces.
The reference to Alfred Nobel, the creator of the Peace Prize, who invented dynamite, adds a layer of depth to the story, and it’s interesting that the team chose to name their mission ‘Operation Golden Dynamite’ in his honor.
The fact that Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize is a testament to her commitment to peace and democracy, and it’s fitting that she was able to accept the award in person, thanks to the bravery of Stern and his team.
I’m impressed by the bravery of Bryan Stern, who has seen his share of dangerous missions as a U.S. Special Forces veteran, and his decision to act and rescue Machado, despite the unique challenges involved in the operation.
The statistic that Grey Bull Rescue Foundation has deployed to over 700 missions since its inception in 2021 is staggering, and it speaks to the organization’s commitment to helping those in need, including high-profile figures like María Corina Machado.
It’s interesting that the team chose to rescue Machado by sea, rather than by land, which would have been more risky given her high profile and the likelihood of her being recognized quickly.