In the dead of night, a boat cuts through the darkness, accompanied by the howling wind and a clandestine rendezvous on the open sea. These are the opening scenes of a newly released video by Grey Bull Rescue, offering a first glimpse into the daring operation that facilitated opposition leader María Corina Machado's escape from Venezuela.
This video evidence corroborates previous reports of a high-risk, covert mission executed between December 9 and 10, 2025. The operation involved a combination of land and sea maneuvers in extreme conditions to transport Machado to Norway, where she was to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
The footage captures the approach of a vessel to a rendezvous point under the cover of night. The sea is rough, and the deafening wind adds to the tension as the mission proceeds stealthily to avoid detection.
Amidst the operation, one can hear an operator’s jubilant exclamation: “Jackpot, jackpot, jackpot. Target: golden dynamite.” Moments later, Machado’s boat joins up with the rescue team.
Bryan Stern, the founder of Grey Bull Rescue, greets her: “Hello María, my name is Bryan, nice to meet you, I've got you,” he says warmly. “Hello!” Machado responds, noting the wet and cold conditions as they exchange a few words about her belongings.
Facing the camera with determination, the opposition leader delivers her message of survival: “I am María Corina Machado, I am alive, I am safe, and I am very grateful to Grey Bull.”
A Cinematic Escape
With only three days of preparation, Grey Bull Rescue orchestrated a meticulously planned extraction by a team of elite ex-military and intelligence veterans. Machado was covertly moved overland to a speedboat that carried her into the open sea under complete darkness.
From there, she was transported to Curaçao, where she boarded a flight to Oslo for the Nobel ceremony. “It was dangerous. It was frightening. The sea conditions were ideal for us, but certainly not welcoming,” Stern explained to CBS.
Throughout the journey, they had to dodge checkpoints, coastal radars, and maritime surveillance by the Venezuelan regime and its allies. The threats were not only logistical. Machado shared in Washington on Friday that she suffered a spinal fracture due to the intense waves.
“The sea was very rough, with waves over two meters and strong winds. We lost GPS signal, and the satellite phone failed. It was a brutal experience,” she recounted to the media.
The video captures part of this treacherous navigation in total darkness, with the boat's occupants huddled down, relying solely on electronic instruments.
Covert Operation with Global Impact
Grey Bull Rescue spent weeks in Venezuela, meticulously planning extraction routes. Stern elaborates in the video: “We’ve been in the region for a month. This is the big enchilada: getting her from where she is to where she needs to be.”
The release of the footage on January 16 has sparked substantial attention. It visually documents the intricacy, difficulty, and danger of an operation that enabled one of Venezuela's most prominent opposition figures to break free from a repressive environment and participate in a high-profile international event.
Controversy Surrounding Nobel Presentation to Trump
Following the ceremony in Oslo on January 15, 2026, María Corina Machado made headlines by presenting the physical Nobel medal to Donald Trump at the White House. She framed it with a message of gratitude, citing Washington's decisive support for Venezuela's cause.
This gesture sparked immediate debate: for some, it was a political expression of appreciation; for others, it was an inappropriate act involving a non-transferable accolade. The Norwegian Nobel Committee clarified that the award cannot be given away or shared, and Trump is not officially recognized as a laureate.
Understanding the Covert Operation and Its Implications
What was the purpose of María Corina Machado's escape from Venezuela?
The escape was orchestrated to allow María Corina Machado to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway, highlighting her role as a prominent opposition leader against the Venezuelan regime.
Who facilitated the escape of María Corina Machado?
Grey Bull Rescue, a team comprised of elite ex-military and intelligence veterans, facilitated her escape through a highly risky and secretive mission.
Why did María Corina Machado present the Nobel medal to Donald Trump?
María Corina Machado presented the medal as a symbolic gesture of gratitude for the support provided by the United States under Trump's presidency to the Venezuelan opposition.