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This audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved 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 Nighttime Crossing

Bryan Stern, who leads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the mission in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, recounting rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the flight.

“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 recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she left Venezuela, where she had been lying low since August 2024 due to fear of persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Detailed Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day trip to an secret location to board a flight, in a mission planned just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, 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 had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

Describing her condition, he commented, She was elated. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about twenty-four people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This report comes after earlier stories that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and US Involvement

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – with no 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 positioning and plans, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Admiration

Machado said she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, 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 in. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.