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This audacious escape of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a long, frightening and very wet sea crossing in the pitch black of night, according to the American man who says he led the mission.

A Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

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

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the bigger the swells, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

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

A Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day trip to an secret location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

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

Confirmation and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was behind the extraction, which commenced earlier in the week. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and American Involvement

He stated publicly the endeavor was financed by “several benefactors” – with no US government figures involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

He said, however, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the American armed forces 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 return home, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern said 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 for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.