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The daring escape of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, frightening and very wet boat journey in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the US veteran who claims to have commanded the operation.

A Perilous Nocturnal Voyage

Bryan Stern, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the mission in a recent 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 ocean was perfect for our purposes, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

He described meeting Machado out at sea after she left Venezuela, where she had been in hiding for over a year due to fear of targeting by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a 13- to 14-hour trip to an undisclosed location to board a flight, as part of planned just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

Describing her condition, he said, She was elated. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” and noted about twenty-four people were actively participating within his team.

Verification and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s company was responsible for the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This report comes after earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and American Role

He stated publicly the endeavor was financed by “several benefactors” – none of whom were US officials involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, 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, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Admiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern said his group would play no part in that operation, as it worked only on getting people out of countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.