A top-secret CIA unit known as ‘Ground Branch’ paved the way for Special Forces to carry out a mission on Nicolas Maduro’s stronghold in Venezuela, according to information obtained by The Mirror. The Ground Branch team, part of the CIA Special Activities Centre, was deployed to Caracas in August to surveil Maduro’s activities.
Operating covertly, the team identified entry points for Army Delta Force operatives and compiled detailed information on Maduro and his security detail to lead the operation. The mission was high-risk, with operatives having to navigate Caracas security forces while gathering crucial intelligence.
The operation culminated in the capture of Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and others during a coordinated effort involving multiple warplanes and ships. Maduro and his wife faced narco-terror charges in a New York court, pleading not guilty.
The Ground Branch unit comprises highly-trained individuals with backgrounds in elite military units like Army Delta Force and Navy SEALs. Concurrently, standard CIA agents were working to recruit defectors from the Maduro regime to assist in intelligence gathering.
This mission marked a significant endeavor for Ground Branch, characterized by extended undercover operations and high stakes. The unit’s work is shrouded in secrecy, with operatives carefully selected and trained in specialized skills for clandestine operations.
Established in response to strategic military needs in the 1980s, Ground Branch specializes in covert operations, intelligence collection, and targeted missions. The unit’s members are skilled in a range of roles, including assassination, espionage, and mission planning.
The UK’s closest equivalent to Ground Branch is the SAS ‘E Squadron,’ which collaborates closely with MI6 for specialized operations.