Operation Guacamaya: Italy's brilliant role in the liberation of Venezuelan opponents
A textbook operation, conducted with surgical precision and absolute discretion: this was the conclusion of Operation Guacamaya, the mission that led to the release of four - and not five, as initially reported - Venezuelan opposition figures who had been in hiding for over a year in the Argentinean embassy in Caracas. Behind this extraordinary success lies an unexpected but decisive protagonist: Italy.
A twist worthy of a thriller
While Nicolás Maduro was flying to Moscowunaware of what was happening, according to the 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), the Italian Secret Service and Mossad (Israel), orchestrated one of the most audacious intelligence operations in recent years.
Venezuelan journalistic sources, such as David Placer, talk about an operation led by the US and Italy.
According to FonsecaHaving overcome the imposing security cordon besieging the embassy, the agents transported the four remaining men in vehicles disguised as Venezuelan police patrols. After circumventing threats and controls, they reached the western part of the country by land, from where they took off in an aircraft camouflaged as the narcos' 'avioneta', similar to those used by the Los Soles Cartelthe criminal organisation linked to the Venezuelan government's top leadership. On this cartel, and in particular on Nicolás Maduro, a $25 million bounty hangs offered by the United States.
The operation took place on 5 May, a few days after the exfiltration of opposition leader María Corina Machado's mother from Venezuela to the United States.
Venezuelan journalist David Placer confirmed that this 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 its staff in 2024. Placer also revealed that this is only the first in a series of operations that the US and its allies would be preparing against the Maduro regime.
48 hours after the operation, the home of one of the exfiltrated opponents, Magalli Meda, was searched by Venezuelan police looking for evidence, as she denounced by posting video surveillance images 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.
WHAT THEY WERE MADE OF BY THE REGIME. ENTRARON CARGADOS DE MALETINES. pic.twitter.com/HS0FImQsIm
A year in isolation, without electricity or water
The five opponents lived 412 days in extreme conditions, without electricity or water, constantly guarded by armed agents, guard dogs, drones and even helicopters:
- Pedro Urruchurtu Noselli - Head of international relations of the Vente Venezuela party.
- Humberto Villalobos - National coordinator of the María Corina Machado campaign.
- Claudia Macero - Campaign communication manager.
- Omar González Moreno - Former MP and political leader.
- Magalli Meda - Head of the María Corina Machado campaign
In addition, a sixth member of the original group, Fernando Martínez Mottolahad left the embassy in December 2024 for health reasons and passed away in February 2025.
The six opponents had taken refuge in the Argentine embassy in March 2024, at the height of the election campaign, after Venezuelan prosecutors had issued arrest warrants for alleged conspiracy. Following the break in diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Argentina, decided by Maduro after President Javier Milei refused to recognise the result of the July 2024 presidential elections, the embassy had come under the protection of Brazil.
According to the Congress of the United StatesThere are over 1,000 political prisoners in Venezuela to date.
A plan put in place after the failure of negotiations
The operation was decided after the failure of negotiations between the US and Venezuelan governmentsinterrupted due to Caracas' demands, including the lifting of international sanctions.
According to the 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 US in 2019, the operation was one of the most complex ever, planned down to the millimetre for months.
Interviewed by the Colombian TV channel NTN24Simonovis explained that the mission required impressive logistical support and operational conduct at the highest level, while maintaining absolute secrecy. Among the main difficulties overcome was the presence of numerous checkpoints around the Argentinean embassy, which is located in a highly guarded area: the Russian embassy is next door, for example, and the Argentinean building was constantly monitored by drones and by agents of SEBIN, the Venezuelan intelligence service, who occupied two adjacent houses.
"If all this has been possible, it is also because the Venezuelan regime is losing consensus internally. - said Simonovis - and many other initiatives will be implemented in the future to bring democracy back to Venezuela. From today, those loyal to Maduro will sleep less soundly."
According to journalistic sources, Italy did not limit itself to providing logistical support, but assumed an important role in the management of the most critical phases, exploiting a network of local contacts, a solid intelligence capability on the ground and consolidated experience in complex operations gained in delicate scenarios.
The refugees, now on US soil, reportedly signed confidentiality agreements not to disclose details of the operation.
Marco Rubiothe US 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 Wrath of Caracas
At first, the Chavista regime, in obvious difficulty, denied the existence of the operation, claiming it was an agreement with the United States.
However, yesterday, Diosdado Cabellonumber two of the regime, during the podcast Sin Truco Ni Maña, admitted not only the existence of the operation and forced exfiltrationbut also that some people have already been identified and arrested in Caracaseven going so far as to make public some of the names and surnames of citizens who ended up in handcuffs for supporting the escape of opponents.
David Placer talked about a veritable persecution taking place in Caracas in these hourswith indiscriminate arrests. According to the Venezuelan journalist, military operations are underway that lead to the detention of even those merely suspected of assisting the escape of the five opponents and opposition activists.
In the last few hours, Venezuelan police raided in the home of Magalli Meda's motherone of the exfiltrators in the operation, who had already had his home searched 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.
But... pic.twitter.com/5cJc2nU5Fn
A clear message to the Venezuelan regime
The operation, carried out without bloodshed and in absolute secrecy, is a clear warning to the Maduro regime: the international community will not stand idly by in the face of continuing human rights violations and shows that it can operate in Venezuela, even in delicate situations, with discretion and effectiveness.
With this extraordinary success, Italy reaffirms its leading role in the defence of freedom and democracy beyond its borders. Operation Guacamaya will enter the intelligence manuals as an example of international cooperation and brilliant operational capability.
Our government's official silence is no accident: it is an integral part of the mission's success. But today, more than ever, Italy can proudly look back on its contribution to the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the world.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/c93439y641zo
Published by Condoralex
Born Alessandro Generotti, C.le Maj. Parachutist on leave. Military Parachutist Patent no. 192806. 186th RGT Par. Folgore/5th BTG. Par. El Alamein/XIII Cp. Par. Condor.
Founder and administrator of the website BRIGATAFOLGORE.NET. Blogger and computer scientist by profession.
