Dramatic new footage has emerged showing the secret extraction of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado from her home country. The video was released by Grey Bull Rescue, a US-based civilian rescue group, and documents her high-risk midnight escape across the Caribbean Sea.
Covert Operation Details
The rescue operation took place last month and ended nearly a year of hiding for Machado. She had been forced underground during President Nicolás Maduro's ongoing crackdown on political opponents. The newly released footage confirms that Machado is alive and safe following the covert mission.
Midnight Boat Transfer
The video shows Machado arriving on a small vessel from the Venezuelan coast under cover of darkness. She was then transferred to a rescue boat operated by Grey Bull Rescue. The group's founder, Bryan Stern, a US special forces veteran, received her personally.
"That's them, that's them, that's them," Stern can be heard saying in the footage as lights from Machado's approaching boat appear in the darkness. Moments later, he helps her board his vessel, saying, "Hi, María. My name is Bryan. Nice to meet you. I got you."
Physical Toll of the Journey
Machado appears visibly shaken and drenched in the footage. After the difficult journey, she tells her rescuers, "So wet and so cold." In a brief onboard video recorded after the transfer, she looks directly into the camera to deliver a clear message about her condition.
"I am María Corina Machado. I'm alive. I'm safe and very grateful to Grey Bull," she states firmly in the recording.
Rescue Mission Challenges
Grey Bull Rescue reported that the covert extraction lasted nearly sixteen hours and involved navigating rough seas. The organization conducts civilian rescue missions worldwide and claims to have completed more than eight hundred such operations globally.
Speaking to CBS News in December, Stern explained that while Grey Bull has completed hundreds of rescues, this particular mission stood out as one of the most challenging operations he has ever undertaken. He also described it as one of the most rewarding.
Security Concerns and Funding
Machado has declined to discuss operational details, citing ongoing security concerns. However, she has previously acknowledged receiving undisclosed support from the United States during her time in hiding.
Stern revealed that anonymous donors funded the mission, and Washington did not officially back the operation. According to CNN reports, US military authorities were informed about Grey Bull's presence at sea during the extraction.
Life After Escape
Barred from public office in Venezuela, Machado traveled to Oslo after her escape. There she accepted the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize and reunited with her family. She had fled Venezuela in early December 2025 specifically to attend the Nobel ceremony.
Meeting with US Leadership
Last week, Machado met with US President Donald Trump and presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, which she had framed in gold. The Norwegian Nobel Committee later clarified that while recipients may gift their medals, the Peace Prize itself cannot be transferred to another person.
Trump accepted the framed medal and gave Machado a maroon swag bag bearing his signature in gold as a reciprocal gesture. This meeting marked another significant moment in her post-escape journey.
The release of this footage provides unprecedented insight into the dangerous world of political extractions and the ongoing struggles facing opposition figures in Venezuela under Maduro's government.
