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The audacious escape of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, frightening and very wet sea crossing in the dead of night, as detailed by the US veteran who claims to have commanded the mission.

The Dangerous Nocturnal Crossing

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the operation in a newly published interview. It was perilous. It was scary,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing dark and choppy conditions that simultaneously offered convenient cover for the escape.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

He described meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from Venezuela, where she had been in hiding since August 2024 fearing persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Escape Plan

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day trip to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, 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 pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

Regarding her state, he said, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” and noted about two dozen people were directly involved within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was responsible for the operation, which began on Tuesday. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and American Involvement

He told media the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

He clarified, though, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the US military regarding locations and strategy, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Inspiration

Machado said she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would play no part in a return mission, as it worked only on getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.