In a saga that reads like a page torn from a Cold War thriller, United States authorities spent 16 months orchestrating a covert operation to kidnap Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by targeting his most trusted aide—his chief pilot, General Bitner Villegas. The plot, which ultimately failed, has come to light through a series of exclusive reports and authenticated communications, highlighting the extraordinary lengths Washington has gone in its campaign to unseat Maduro and intensify pressure on his embattled regime.
The operation began quietly in April 2024, when Edwin Lopez, an agent with US Homeland Security Investigations, arranged a clandestine meeting with Villegas at La Isabela executive airport in the Dominican Republic. According to the Associated Press, Lopez’s pitch was as bold as it was simple: if Villegas could be persuaded to secretly divert Maduro’s private jet to a US-controlled location—be it the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, or even Guantanamo Bay—he would be rewarded with immense wealth and recognition. The stakes could hardly have been higher.
“I’m still waiting for your answer,” Lopez wrote in a message to Villegas on August 7, 2024, attaching a link to a Justice Department press release announcing that the US had doubled the bounty for Maduro’s capture to a staggering $50 million. The message, authenticated and reviewed by AP, underscored the pressure campaign unfolding behind the scenes. Villegas, described as loyal and reserved, hesitated at first but did share his phone number with Lopez—a gesture that, according to AP, suggested at least a willingness to listen.
For over a year, Lopez maintained contact with Villegas through encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, even after retiring from his government post in July 2024. The US agent’s persistence was matched only by the mounting urgency in Washington, as President Donald Trump—having returned to the White House—adopted an increasingly hardline stance against Maduro. The operation’s secretive nature, involving luxury private jets, tense airport hangar meetings, and encrypted chats, gave it all the hallmarks of a high-stakes espionage drama.
The broader context for this dramatic operation is Washington’s longstanding frustration with Maduro, whom US officials accuse of destroying Venezuela’s once-thriving democracy and propping up drug trafficking networks, terrorist organizations, and Cuba’s communist government. The US has authorized CIA covert operations inside Venezuela, deployed military assets in the Caribbean, and, as reported by multiple outlets, intensified attacks on drug trafficking routes. In the summer of 2025, thousands of US troops, attack helicopters, and warships were sent to the Caribbean to target fishing boats allegedly smuggling cocaine out of Venezuela. According to AP, these efforts resulted in at least 57 deaths in 13 military strikes, including some in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Throughout the 16-month plot, Lopez dangled the promise of riches and a chance for Villegas to become “Venezuela’s hero.” The US government’s willingness to double the bounty for Maduro’s capture was not just a carrot—it was a signal of just how far Washington was willing to go. Yet, despite repeated overtures and mounting pressure, Villegas ultimately rejected the proposal. In September 2024, after Lopez noticed unusual flight activity from Maduro’s plane and sent a final message, Villegas responded sharply, calling Lopez a “coward” and blocking further contact. The plan, years in the making, had unraveled in a single, blunt exchange.
Even after the plot’s collapse, the US did not let up. In a move described by AP as psychological warfare, former national security official Marshall Billingslea posted a photo from the secret meeting on social media, aiming to sow doubt and paranoia within Maduro’s inner circle. The tactic seemed to work, at least temporarily—Villegas disappeared from public view for a brief period, only to reappear on Venezuelan state television, reaffirming his loyalty to Maduro and the regime.
The exposure of this failed kidnapping attempt has cast a new spotlight on the high-risk, clandestine measures employed by the US in its ongoing efforts to destabilize Maduro’s government. Federal narco-terrorism charges against Maduro, linked to cocaine trafficking, remain a central pillar of the US case against him. As reported by Mathrubhumi and corroborated by AP, the US blames Maduro for providing a lifeline to criminal organizations and for undermining regional stability. The covert operation, while ultimately unsuccessful, reveals just how deeply the US has invested in removing Maduro from power—through both overt military action and covert intrigue.
The details of the operation, drawn from interviews with three current and former US officials as well as one of Maduro’s opponents, were provided to AP on condition of anonymity. The outlet also reviewed and authenticated the text exchanges between Lopez and Villegas, further confirming the veracity of the story. The tense, intrigue-laden narrative—replete with luxury jets, secret meetings, and high-stakes diplomacy—offers a rare glimpse into the shadowy world of international power struggles.
For Maduro and his allies, the revelation of this plot is both a vindication and a warning. On one hand, the regime can point to the failed US operation as evidence of foreign meddling and justify crackdowns on perceived traitors. On the other, the mere existence of such a plot exposes vulnerabilities within Maduro’s circle and raises questions about who can truly be trusted. For US officials, the operation’s failure is a reminder of the limits of even the most audacious covert actions—and of the complex, often unpredictable nature of international politics.
The failed attempt to kidnap Nicolás Maduro by bribing his personal pilot is not just a footnote in the long-running saga between Washington and Caracas. It is a stark illustration of the extraordinary measures nations will take to pursue their strategic interests, the razor-thin line between diplomacy and espionage, and the ongoing, high-stakes contest for the future of Venezuela. As the world watches, the fallout from this secret operation continues to reverberate, shaping the next chapter in a geopolitical drama that shows no sign of ending soon.
