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This audacious getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, “scary” and soaking boat journey in the dead of night, as detailed by the US veteran who says he led the operation.

The Perilous Nocturnal Voyage

Bryan Stern, who leads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the operation in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, recounting rough and moonless seas that also provided ideal concealment for the escape.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the bigger the swells, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

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

The Step-by-Step Extraction

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an secret location to board a flight, in a mission orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, 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.

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 organization.

Verification and Concealment

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s company was responsible for the operation, which began on Tuesday. This account follows previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and American Involvement

He told media the mission was financed by “a few generous donors” – with no US government figures involved. Official US funds were not used, at least not that I know of,” Stern said.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the American armed forces regarding locations and strategy, primarily to prevent being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Admiration

Machado said she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern said his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “She must decide that and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.