By Carlos Magalhães, for the Castro Magalhães Blog
August 26, 2025

In recent days, an explosive report has stirred defense and geopolitical circles: the alleged Operation Imeri, a supposed Brazilian plan to extract Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela amid an international siege led by the United States. The revelation, published on August 24, 2025, by the website DefesaNet, raises questions about Brazil’s intentions in the Venezuelan crisis. However, the lack of official confirmation and reliance on a single source have made the story a target of intense debate and skepticism.

The Context of Operation Imeri

According to DefesaNet’s exclusive report, authored by Felipe Gonzales Saraiva da Rocha, Operation Imeri would be a clandestine plan discussed in secrecy by Brazil’s Foreign Ministry, involving Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, Yván Gil, during the OTCA/CELAC summit in Bogotá on August 21–22, 2025. The objective would be to evacuate Maduro and his inner circle before they could be captured by U.S. forces or Venezuelan resistance groups, in response to escalating U.S. pressure against the Chavista regime.

The narrative emerges amid heightened geopolitical tensions. The United States, which labels Maduro a narcoterrorist, has increased the bounty for his capture to $50 million and deployed destroyers and troops to the Caribbean under the pretext of combating drug trafficking linked to the Cartel de los Soles. In this context, DefesaNet claims Brazil devised two strategies to extract Maduro:

1. Maritime Approach: Utilization of naval assets, including the Atlântico helicopter carrier, Niterói-class frigates, and the Bahia dock landing ship, supported by Naval Infantry and Combat Divers, to create an evacuation corridor. The operation would be disguised as a military exercise to bypass the need for Congressional approval.
2. Aerial Approach: Deployment of a KC-390 Millennium aircraft for a rapid infiltration into Venezuelan territory, landing at a controlled airstrip, extracting Maduro, and returning immediately to the Boa Vista Air Base in Roraima.

DefesaNet alleges the plan was motivated by fears that Maduro’s capture by foreign forces could further destabilize the region, particularly along Brazil’s border. However, the report highlights internal resistance within the Brazilian Armed Forces, especially in the Navy, where some sectors opposed collaboration due to Maduro’s association with narcoterrorism. The U.S., aware of the alleged plan, reportedly threatened economic and diplomatic sanctions against Brazil.

How Did the Information Surface?

The Operation Imeri story was first published by DefesaNet on August 24, 2025, based on “confidential dispatches” and conversations in “closed circles of the Foreign Ministry.” The report, however, provides no documents, recordings, or identifiable sources, merely stating that the information is “real to the understanding” of the site, without guaranteeing the plan’s execution. The story gained traction quickly, being republished by blogs such as journalist Políbio Braga’s, which called it “explosive” on August 25, and in posts on X, like one by the account @NoticiaeGuerra on August 26. A live stream by the YouTube channel Onça Brasil Oficial, scheduled for the same day, promised to analyze the case but also relied primarily on DefesaNet.

The Name “Imeri” and Its Origin

The term “Imeri” appears to be inspired by the Imeri Range, a mountainous formation in the Brazilian Amazon near Pico da Neblina, on the border with Venezuela. The name likely has roots in indigenous languages, possibly Yanomami or other local peoples, though DefesaNet did not explain its choice as a codename for the alleged operation. The range’s proximity to Roraima, where the Boa Vista Air Base would be used in the aerial approach, may justify the geographic reference.

Curiously, “Operation Imeri” is also the name of an actual logistical initiative by the Brazilian Army, which supported a USP scientific expedition in the Imeri Range, as reported by Jornal da USP and Defesa em Foco. This operation, unrelated to the Venezuelan crisis, involved transporting researchers and equipment, highlighting the coincidence of the name and the risk of confusion between contexts.

Implications and Reflections

If true, Operation Imeri would represent a bold move by Brazil in a delicate geopolitical scenario, defying U.S. pressure and risking sanctions. However, the lack of documents or additional sources suggests many may view the story as speculation amplified by regional tensions. The absence of immediate denials from the Brazilian government keeps the narrative alive but also underscores the need for reliable sources to avoid misinformation.

Sources:

• DefesaNet: “Exclusive – Operation Imeri – Brazil’s Clandestine Rescue of Nicolás Maduro” (08/24/2025). Available at: www.defesanet.com.br.
• Políbio Braga Blog: “DefesaNet – Operation Imeri, Brazil’s Plan to Extract Maduro from Venezuela” (08/25/2025).
• X Post by @NoticiaeGuerra (08/26/2025).
• YouTube: Onça Brasil Oficial, live on Operation Imeri (08/26/2025).
• Jornal da USP: “Expedition Records Biodiversity in Remote Amazon Region” (https://jornal.usp.br/ciencias/expedicao-registra-biodiversidade-em-regiao-remota-da-amazonia/).
• Defesa em Foco: “Brazilian Army Supports Scientific Expedition in the Imeri Range Region” (https://www.defesaemfoco.com.br/exercito-brasileiro-apoia-expedicao-cientifica-na-regiao-da-serra-do-imeri/).