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This daring escape of political leader María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, “scary” and soaking sea crossing in the dead of night, as detailed by the US veteran who says he led the operation.

The Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

Bryan Stern, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the mission in a recent media appearance. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, recounting rough and moonless seas that also provided convenient cover for the flight.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

He recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she left Venezuela, where she had been in hiding for over a year due to fear of targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, vessels running dark. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he commented, She was elated. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” and noted about two dozen people were actively participating within his team.

Verification and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This account follows previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge details about the ground segment, referencing his company’s future work in the region.

Funding and American Involvement

He told media the mission 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 asserted.

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

Next Steps and Inspiration

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

Stern said his group would play no part in a return mission, as it worked only on getting people out of 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 said.