Maria Karina Machado has been in hiding for a long time, fearing repression and disappearance from the Nicolas Maduro government. In the meantime, she learned that she was going to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. So she quickly planned to flee Venezuela.
\nA US rescue team called Gray Bull has told the story of how she was taken to safety at sea after a long fight in the storm. The video they released shows how Maria escaped and reached Norway. CNN News
\nA video released by Gray Bull shows Machado being lifted from a small boat in rough seas to a speeding ship. In the video, Machado himself confirmed that he was ‘alive and safe’. It was his first public appearance after months of hiding in Venezuela.
\nBrian Stern, founder of the rescue team, said the operation began with a boat off the coast of Venezuela and Machado was picked up in international waters. The US rescue team was waiting in another boat in the middle of the ocean.
\nA two-minute video released on Friday (January 16) shows Machado boarding a second boat late at night. When Machado’s boat lights are seen in the distance, Stern can be heard saying, “They’re them.” After confirming Machado’s identity, Stern helps him onto the boat, although the video does not show him.
\nAs they board the boat, Stern can be heard saying, “Hi, Maria. My name is Brian. It’s nice to meet you. I got you safely.” Machado replies, “I’m very wet, I’m very cold.” Later in the video, Machado, wearing a black jacket and hat, can be seen speaking directly to the camera, “I’m Maria Karina Machado. I’m alive. I’m safe and very grateful to Gray Bull.”
\nThe video ends with a still of Machado with Stern and his team. Stern’s voice can be heard over the images, confirming that they have successfully reached him. At this point, Stern says they are heading towards the island of Curacao, near Venezuela.<\/p>\n
Stern says they arrived at shore in the early hours of the morning after a long, cold and tense journey. From there, Machado boarded a plane to Norway, where he accepted the Nobel Prize and met with his family.
\nGray Bull said the rescue operation lasted about 16 hours, much of it late at night in rough seas. The team works to rescue civilians around the world. Under Stern’s leadership, it has conducted at least 800 missions.
\nMachado declined to comment on the rescue operation before last Friday, citing security concerns. CNN reached out to his team for comment, but did not receive a response.
\nHowever, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Machado said that he had received support from the US government. However, he did not want to give details. At the time, Machado said, “One day I will tell everything. Because now I do not want to put them at risk.”
\nCaptain Stern of the Grey Bull said that the operation to rescue Machado was funded by anonymous donors. He confirmed that no direct support had been received from the US government. However, he admitted that his team was in contact with the US military about their presence at sea.
\nThe wife of Venezuelan Prime Minister Maduro has been detained in a special American operation. She is on trial for drug trafficking. Delis Rodriguez is currently serving as Venezuela’s interim head of government. However, the whereabouts of the country’s opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Machado are unknown. However, several media outlets around the world have reported that he may be outside Europe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Maria Karina Machado has been in hiding for a long time, fearing repression and disappearance…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54387,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1?v=1768736888",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1?v=1768736888",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?fit=300%2C158&ssl=1?v=1768736888",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?fit=640%2C336&ssl=1?v=1768736888",640,336,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?fit=640%2C336&ssl=1?v=1768736888",640,336,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1?v=1768736888",1200,630,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1?v=1768736888",1200,630,true],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?resize=1115%2C630&ssl=1?v=1768736888",1115,630,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?resize=800%2C500&ssl=1?v=1768736888",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?fit=1024%2C538&ssl=1?v=1768736888",1024,538,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?resize=540%2C340&ssl=1?v=1768736888",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1?v=1768736888",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"Biz Trend 24","author_link":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/author\/online24"},"category_info":"International<\/a>","tag_info":"International","comment_count":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-18T174701.987_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1?v=1768736888","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":52789,"url":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?p=52789&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":54386,"position":0},"title":"Maduro detained by Trump, what is the fate of Venezuela?","author":"Biz Trend 24","date":"January 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The United States has not directly intervened militarily in a Latin American country since the capture of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega in 1989. However, Donald Trump repeated that history at the beginning of 2026. Last Friday night, US forces arrested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International"","block_context":{"text":"International","link":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?cat=115&lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T112338.200_1200x630-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767504409&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T112338.200_1200x630-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767504409&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T112338.200_1200x630-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767504409&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T112338.200_1200x630-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767504409&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T112338.200_1200x630-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767504409&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49426,"url":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?p=49426&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":54386,"position":1},"title":"America will attack Venezuela at any time","author":"Biz Trend 24","date":"December 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The United States will attack Venezuela, the world's largest oil-rich country, at any time. President Donald Trump announced this information at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (December 2) local time. Trump commented that the infrastructure of the drug empire inside Venezuela will be the target of this attack. He claimed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International"","block_context":{"text":"International","link":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?cat=115&lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Untitled_design_-_2025-12-03T105547.215_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1764737740&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Untitled_design_-_2025-12-03T105547.215_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1764737740&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Untitled_design_-_2025-12-03T105547.215_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1764737740&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Untitled_design_-_2025-12-03T105547.215_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1764737740&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Untitled_design_-_2025-12-03T105547.215_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1764737740&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52946,"url":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?p=52946&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":54386,"position":2},"title":"Starlink launches free internet service in Venezuela","author":"Biz Trend 24","date":"January 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"SpaceX owner Elon Musk has announced free internet service for the people of Venezuela. It has been said that it will be effective for a certain period. Elon Musk made this announcement just as the Venezuelan president was detained by the United States. According to The Economic Times. According to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International"","block_context":{"text":"International","link":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?cat=115&lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T171018.463_1200x630-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767525193&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T171018.463_1200x630-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767525193&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T171018.463_1200x630-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767525193&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T171018.463_1200x630-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767525193&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T171018.463_1200x630-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767525193&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52792,"url":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?p=52792&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":54386,"position":3},"title":"White House releases video of Maduro walking ‘like a criminal’","author":"Biz Trend 24","date":"January 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The official Rapid Response account of the White House has released a video of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro walking 'like a criminal'. 'Rapid Response 47' captioned the video, 'Perp Walk (criminal made to walk in public)'. The video shows Maduro walking down a corridor. He was wearing a black hoodie\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International"","block_context":{"text":"International","link":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?cat=115&lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T113310.538_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767504851&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T113310.538_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767504851&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T113310.538_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767504851&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T113310.538_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767504851&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T113310.538_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767504851&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52880,"url":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?p=52880&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":54386,"position":4},"title":"China-Russia response to Maduro’s detention","author":"Biz Trend 24","date":"January 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"China has said that the US military operation to 'forcibly detain' Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores is a 'clear violation of international law'. BBC News. Beijing has condemned the incident and expressed concern and called for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife. The Chinese\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International"","block_context":{"text":"International","link":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?cat=115&lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T154341.924_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767519875&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T154341.924_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767519875&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T154341.924_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767519875&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T154341.924_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767519875&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-04T154341.924_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767519875&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52991,"url":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?p=52991&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":54386,"position":5},"title":"Venezuela operation must be explained: British PM","author":"Biz Trend 24","date":"January 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the US must explain its reasoning behind the dramatic detention of President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. He said the situation is \"complex\" and needs to be judged in the light of international law. Speaking to reporters on Monday (January 5), Starmer reiterated the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International"","block_context":{"text":"International","link":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/?cat=115&lang=en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-06T111005.006_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767676276&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-06T111005.006_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767676276&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-06T111005.006_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767676276&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-06T111005.006_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767676276&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/biztrend24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Untitled_design_-_2026-01-06T111005.006_1200x630.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1%3Fv%3D1767676276&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=54386"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54388,"href":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54386\/revisions\/54388"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/54387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=54386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=54386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biztrend24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=54386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}