🔗 Share this article

The audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a long, frightening and very wet sea crossing in the dead of night, according to the American man who claims to have commanded the mission.

A Perilous Nocturnal Voyage

Bryan Stern, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a recent interview. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the flight.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the bigger the swells, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” he remarked.

He described rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she departed from the country, where she had been in hiding since August 2024 due to fear of targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day trip to an secret location to board a flight, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern added.

Describing her condition, he said, She was elated. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” and noted about two dozen people were actively participating within his organization.

Confirmation and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s company was responsible for the operation, which began on Tuesday. This account comes after earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to flee her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share specifics about the ground segment, citing his company’s future work in the country.

Funding and American Involvement

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – with no US officials involved. Official US funds were not used, at least not that I know of,” Stern asserted.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the American armed forces regarding locations and strategy, largely to avoid being targeted by airstrikes.

Next Steps and Admiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain how or when.

Stern indicated his group would play no part in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he said.