🔗 Share this article

The audacious escape of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a long, frightening and soaking sea crossing in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who says he led the mission.

The Dangerous Nighttime Crossing

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered convenient cover for the escape.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

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

The Step-by-Step Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an undisclosed location to board a flight, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he commented, She was elated. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about two dozen people were actively participating within his team.

Verification and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s company was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report follows previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and American Role

He stated publicly the mission was funded through “several benefactors” – with no US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, at least not that I know of,” Stern said.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the US military regarding locations and strategy, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Next Steps and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern said his group would play no part in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “That’s for her to determine for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.