The plan was first hatched after Lopez received a tip about Venezuelan planes undergoing repairs in the Dominican Republic. Realizing that Venezuela likely violated sanctions by using American parts, Lopez first worked to have the planes seized. Then, he got the idea to use one of the pilots Venezuelan Gen. Bitner Villegas to bring the elusive Maduro to them.
It may sound anachronistic to use terms like espionage, counterintelligence, secret services, or double agents in relation to ancient times. But activities, organizations, and personnel that largely fit our current concepts were widely deployed by the civilizations of the ancient world, giving truth to the saying that there is nothing new under the Sun (or, in this case, the shadows). To provide a few examples: Ramses II was nearly defeated at the Battle of Kadesh (which ended in a stalemate)