Daring CIA Plot to Capture Maduro's Pilot Revealed

Wed Oct 29 2025 09:32:57 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

An investigation into a U.S. federal agent's elaborate plan to recruit Venezuelan General Bitner Villegas, Maduro's chief pilot, raises concerns over the lengths to which the U.S. has gone to seize control and pressure the Venezuelan regime.

A federal agent's covert operation aimed at persuading Nicolás Maduro's chief pilot to divert the Venezuelan president's plane for a capture attempt unveils the harsh realities of U.S.-Venezuelan relations. Following 16 months of communication with the pilot, Edwin Lopez's bold pitch illustrates the intricate and dangerous espionage tactics employed against the Maduro administration amidst growing U.S. efforts to undermine the Venezuelan government.

MIAMI (AP) – In an audacious scenario reminiscent of Cold War tactics, a federal agent approached Nicolás Maduro’s chief pilot with a risky proposal: divert the Venezuelan president’s aircraft to a location where U.S. authorities could execute an arrest. The agent, Edwin Lopez, suggested that in return, the pilot could expect a substantial financial reward.

The initial meeting was fraught with tension, and while the pilot left unsure, he provided his cell number, hinting at a possible interest in collaborating with the U.S. government. Over the subsequent 16 months, even after retiring, Lopez maintained communication with the pilot through encrypted messaging, laying the groundwork for a potential coup against Maduro.

The extraordinary efforts of Lopez parallel the United States’ broader history of trying to destabilize the Maduro regime, which Washington condemns for undermining Venezuelan democracy while allegedly financing drug trafficking and harboring terrorist operations. This plot to corner one of Maduro’s closest aides highlights the complexities of diplomatic relations intertwined with espionage and military strategy.

This summer, President Donald Trump intensified the U.S. stance, deploying troops and naval assets to the Caribbean against suspected drug trafficking operations originating from Venezuela. The Biden administration continued this aggressive posturing, doubling the bounty for Maduro's capture and authorizing covert actions within Venezuela.

In a shocking twist, as Lopez made his final appeals to the pilot, intelligence efforts revealed that Maduro was aware of the plot and took retaliatory action. Following a humorous social media birthday post targeting Villegas, the pilot reappeared on Venezuelan television, reaffirming his loyalty to Maduro.

Despite months of attempts to recruit the pilot, Lopez's mission remains incomplete as Maduro's regime shows resilience against external pressures. As tensions escalate, the outcome of these covert operations remains uncertain, with implications for both U.S. foreign policy and Venezuela's precarious political landscape.