An operation by the book, conducted with surgical precision and absolute discretion: this is how Operation Guacamaya concluded, the mission that led to the liberation of four — not five, as initially reported — Venezuelan opposition figures who had taken refuge for over a year in the Argentine embassy in Caracas. Behind this extraordinary success lies an unexpected but decisive protagonist: Italy.
A plot twist worthy of a thriller
While Nicolás Maduro was flying to Moscow, unaware of what was happening, according to Spanish geopolitical analyst Enrique Alberto Fonseca Porras — whose video on the subject reached almost 500,000 views in less than 24 hours — the CIA (United States), Italian Secret Services, and Mossad (Israel), orchestrated one of the boldest intelligence operations in recent years.
Venezuelan journalistic sources, like David Placer, talk about an operation conducted by the USA and Italy.
According to Fonseca, after overcoming the massive security cordon that besieged the embassy, the agents transported the remaining four aboard vehicles disguised as Venezuelan police patrols. After bypassing threats and controls, they reached the western part of the country by land, from where they took off aboard an aircraft disguised as a narco "avioneta," similar to those used by the Cartel de Los Soles, the criminal organization linked to the top of the Venezuelan government. On this cartel, and particularly on Nicolás Maduro, a $25 million bounty is offered by the United States.
The operation took place on May 5, a few days after the exfiltration of María Corina Machado's mother, opposition leader, from Venezuela to the United States.
The Venezuelan journalist David Placer confirmed that it was a genuine exfiltration operation, not a release granted by the regime. The action was conducted without any prior communication to Brazil, which formally had diplomatic custody of the Argentine embassy after the expulsion of the staff in 2024. Placer also revealed that this is only the first in a series of operations that the United States and its allies are preparing against the Maduro regime.
48 hours after the operation, the home of one of the exfiltrated opposition figures, Magalli Meda, was searched by Venezuelan police looking for evidence, as she herself denounced by publishing the surveillance footage on her X account.
En nuestro hogar hay cientos de libros, cientos de historias, cientos de recuerdos familiares.
— MAGALLI MEDA (@MagalliMeda) May 8, 2025
En nuestro hogar hay cultura, hay educación y hay amor de familia.
LO QUE SIEMBREN LO DEJO EL RÉGIMEN. ENTRARON CARGADOS DE MALETINES. pic.twitter.com/HS0FImQsIm
A year in isolation, without electricity or water
The five opposition figures lived 412 days in extreme conditions, without electricity or water, constantly monitored by armed agents, guard dogs, drones, and even helicopters, and they are:
- Pedro Urruchurtu Noselli – Head of international relations for the Vente Venezuela party.
- Humberto Villalobos – National coordinator of María Corina Machado's campaign.
- Claudia Macero – Head of communication for the campaign.
- Omar González Moreno – Former deputy and political leader.
- Magalli Meda - Head of María Corina Machado's campaign
Additionally, a sixth member of the original group, Fernando Martínez Mottola, had left the embassy in December 2024 for health reasons and passed away in February 2025.
The six opposition figures had taken refuge in the Argentine embassy in March 2024, in the midst of the electoral campaign, after the Venezuelan Prosecutor's Office issued arrest warrants for alleged conspiracy. Following the breakdown of diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Argentina, decided by Maduro after President Javier Milei refused to recognize the results of the July 2024 presidential elections, the embassy came under the protection of Brazil.
According to the United States Congress, there are currently over 1,000 political prisoners in Venezuela.
A plan implemented after the failure of negotiations
The operation was decided after the failure of negotiations between the U.S. government and the Venezuelan government, interrupted due to Caracas's demands, including the lifting of international sanctions.
According to Venezuelan commissioner Iván Simonovis, now a criminal investigator and intelligence analyst, sentenced to 30 years in prison for treason by the Chavista regime and fled to the United States in 2019, the operation was one of the most complex ever carried out, planned to the millimeter for months.
Interviewed by the Colombian television channel NTN24, Simonovis explained that the mission required massive logistical support and operational conduct at the highest levels, while maintaining an absolute level of secrecy. Among the main difficulties overcome was the presence of numerous checkpoints around the Argentine embassy, located in a highly monitored area: next door, for example, is the Russian embassy, and the Argentine building was constantly monitored by drones and SEBIN agents, the Venezuelan intelligence services, who occupied two adjacent houses.
"If all this was possible, it is also because the Venezuelan regime is losing support internally – Simonovis declared – and many other initiatives will be feasible in the future to restore democracy in Venezuela. From today, Maduro's loyalists will sleep less peacefully."
According to journalistic sources, Italy did not limit itself to providing logistical support but played an important role in managing the most critical phases, leveraging a network of local contacts, solid on-the-ground intelligence capabilities, and extensive experience in complex operations gained in delicate scenarios.
The refugees, now on U.S. soil, are said to have signed confidentiality agreements not to disclose details of the operation.
Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, called the operation a masterpiece of precision, thanking the personnel and "partners" involved:
The U.S. welcomes the successful rescue of all hostages held by the Maduro regime at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 7, 2025
Following a precise operation, all hostages are now safely on U.S. soil. Maduro's illegitimate regime has undermined Venezuela's institutions, violated human…
The anger of Caracas
Initially, the Chavista regime, clearly in difficulty, denied the existence of the operation, claiming it was an agreement with the United States.
However, yesterday, Diosdado Cabello, the regime's number two, during the podcast Sin Truco Ni Maña, admitted not only the existence of the operation and the forced exfiltration, but also that some people have already been identified and arrested in Caracas, even going so far as to make public some names and surnames of citizens who ended up in handcuffs for supporting the escape of the opponents.
David Placer spoke of a real persecution underway in Caracas at this time, with indiscriminate arrests. According to the Venezuelan journalist, military operations are underway leading to the detention even of those only suspected of having provided assistance to the escape of the five opponents and opposition activists.
In recent hours, the Venezuelan police raided the home of Magalli Meda's mother, one of those exfiltrated in the operation, who had already undergone a search in her home the day after the escape:
**LA IMAGEN DEL TERROR**
— MAGALLI MEDA (@MagalliMeda) May 9, 2025
La imagen de una Venezuela sumida en el terror,
La imagen del irrespeto a lo más sagrado: la familia, y en este caso, a mi madre.
La imagen violenta de una Venezuela por la que hemos luchado,
para que esta pesadilla termine de una vez.
Pero… pic.twitter.com/5cJc2nU5Fn
A clear message to the Venezuelan regime
The operation, conducted without bloodshed and with the utmost discretion, represents a clear warning to the Maduro regime: the international community will not remain inert in the face of continuous human rights violations and demonstrates its ability to operate in Venezuela, even in delicate situations, with discretion and effectiveness.
With this extraordinary success, Italy reaffirms its leading role in defending freedom and democracy even beyond its borders. Operation Guacamaya will enter intelligence manuals as an example of international cooperation and brilliant operational capability.
The official silence of our Government is no coincidence: it is an integral part of the mission's success. But today, more than ever, Italy can look with pride at its contribution to the defense of human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/c93439y641zo
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