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The audacious escape of political leader María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, frightening and soaking sea crossing in the dead of night, as detailed by the US veteran who says he led the mission.

The Dangerous Nocturnal Crossing

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the mission in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the flight.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the bigger the swells, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” he remarked.

He described rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she departed from the country, where she had been in hiding for over a year fearing persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Step-by-Step Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day trip to an undisclosed location to board a flight, in a mission orchestrated just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. All of us were pretty wet. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he said, She was elated. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about twenty-four people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the extraction, which commenced earlier in the week. This report follows previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share specifics about the ground segment, referencing his organization's ongoing operations in the country.

Funding and American Role

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US officials involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

He said, however, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the American armed forces regarding locations and strategy, largely to avoid being targeted by airstrikes.

Next Steps and Admiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in that operation, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “That’s for her to determine for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.