Maxwell Raid: ‘FBI Were Nearly Foiled'

‘Map society’ lie to local almost blows cover of €4.5m op to nab suspect

- Christopher Bucktin

FBI agents almost blew their covert €4.5million operation to capture Ghislaine Maxwell when a lie to locals near her home backfired.

Armed agents were all set to storm the British socialite’s New Hampshire hideout after a year-long hunt – when a man annoyed by the sound of planes circling overhead went to complain.

One local said: “The planes had been buzzing around since 5am. They were a nuisance. We began calling each other to find out what the noise was about. Finally one snapped and drove down to where the vehicles were lined up.

“He demanded to know who they were and they replied they were from the New England Aerial map society – it was totally fictitious. The problem the FBI had was that the guy is an expert in maps and geology. It’s what he does for a living.