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This daring escape of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, frightening and soaking sea crossing in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the US veteran who claims to have commanded the mission.

A Perilous Nighttime Crossing

Bryan Stern, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the mission in a newly published media appearance. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting dark and choppy conditions that also provided convenient cover for the flight.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the bigger the swells, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” he remarked.

He recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from 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 Escape Plan

Machado embarked on his boat for a 13- to 14-hour trip to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, in a mission orchestrated just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he said, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about two dozen people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was behind the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This report follows previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share specifics about the ground segment, referencing his organization's ongoing operations in the country.

Financing and American Role

He told media the endeavor was financed by “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 coordinate informally with the US military regarding locations and strategy, largely to avoid being targeted by airstrikes.

Next Steps and Admiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain how or when.

Stern said his group would play no part in that operation, as it worked only on getting people out of countries, not in. “She must decide that and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.