🔗 Share this article

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

A Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the mission in a recent media appearance. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, recounting rough and moonless seas that also provided ideal concealment for the flight.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

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

A Step-by-Step Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an secret location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

Describing her condition, he said, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” adding that about two dozen people were directly involved within his organization.

Confirmation and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s company was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge specifics about the land operation, citing his company’s future work in the region.

Financing and US Involvement

He told media the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – with no US officials involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to return home, though the specifics remain uncertain the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would play no part in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he said.