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This daring escape of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a long, “scary” and soaking boat journey in the dead of night, as detailed by the American man who claims to have commanded the mission.

A Perilous Nighttime Voyage

Bryan Stern, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that also provided convenient cover for the escape.

“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 recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left Venezuela, where she had been lying low for over a year fearing targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour trip to an secret location to board a flight, in a mission planned just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, very hard to see, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern added.

Describing her condition, he said, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” adding that about twenty-four people were directly involved within his team.

Confirmation and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the extraction, which commenced earlier in the week. This account comes after earlier stories that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share specifics about the land operation, citing his company’s future work in the region.

Financing and US Involvement

He stated publicly the mission was financed by “several benefactors” – none of whom were US officials involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

He clarified, though, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, largely to avoid being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern said his group would play no part in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not in. “She must decide that for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.