A top-secret unit of the CIA known as ‘Ground Branch’ played a pivotal role in facilitating Special Forces troops to carry out a mission targeting Nicolas Maduro’s stronghold in Venezuela, as per a report by The Mirror.
The Ground Branch team, operating within the CIA Special Activities Centre, was deployed to Caracas as early as August to surveil Maduro’s movements discreetly.
Their tasks included identifying entry points for Army Delta Force commandos and creating a detailed profile of Maduro and his security detail, all while evading surveillance by Caracas security forces.
The operation culminated in the capture of Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and several others through a coordinated effort involving 150 warplanes and 11 ships. The duo faced narco-terror charges in a New York court and entered not guilty pleas.
Comprising elite operatives such as ex-Army Delta Force members and former Navy SEALs, the Ground Branch team represents one of the most clandestine ‘black ops’ units in the U.S. They worked alongside regular CIA agents who collaborated with defectors from the Maduro regime to gather crucial intelligence.
The long-term covert mission undertaken by the Ground Branch team was considered a high-stakes venture, with risks of exposure and minimal official support if caught. This operation highlighted the level of expertise and secrecy maintained by the unit.
Recruitment for Ground Branch involves meticulous screening of candidates, often sourced from special forces backgrounds, who undergo extensive training in espionage tactics and covert operations.
Established to fulfill the need for a specialized paramilitary group capable of executing missions behind enemy lines, Ground Branch operates with utmost secrecy and precision, drawing on the lessons learned from past failed operations like Operation Eagle Claw in 1980.
In comparison to the UK’s SAS ‘E Squadron,’ which collaborates closely with MI6, Ground Branch stands out as a highly skilled and covert unit within the U.S. military intelligence framework.