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This daring getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a long, frightening and soaking sea crossing in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who claims to have commanded the mission.

The Dangerous Nocturnal Crossing

Bryan Stern, who leads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the operation in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing rough and moonless seas that also provided convenient cover for the flight.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

He described rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left the country, where she had been in hiding since August 2024 fearing targeting by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an secret location to board a flight, as part of orchestrated just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Describing her condition, he commented, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” adding that about twenty-four people were actively participating within his organization.

Confirmation and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was responsible for the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This account comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and US Role

He told media the mission was financed by “several benefactors” – with no US government figures involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

He said, however, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Inspiration

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

Stern indicated his group would play no part in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that for herself. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.