🔗 Share this article

This audacious escape of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a long, “scary” and very wet boat journey in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the US veteran who says he led the operation.

A Perilous Nighttime Crossing

Bryan Stern, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a newly published media appearance. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing dark and choppy conditions 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,” Stern said.

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left Venezuela, where she had been lying low since August 2024 fearing targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Escape Plan

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day journey to an secret location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern added.

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

Verification and Concealment

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This account follows earlier stories that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge specifics about the ground segment, referencing his organization's ongoing operations in the region.

Financing and American Involvement

He stated publicly the mission was funded through “a few generous donors” – with no US officials involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, at least not that I know of,” Stern said.

He clarified, though, that his group did coordinate informally with the US military regarding positioning and plans, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Next Steps and Inspiration

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

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in that operation, as it worked only on getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that and for her to decide. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.