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This daring getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a long, frightening and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who says he led the mission.

The Perilous Nocturnal Crossing

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered convenient cover 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,” he remarked.

He recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from the country, where she had been in hiding for over a year due to fear of persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step 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 – very little moon, 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.

Describing her condition, he said, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about twenty-four people were directly involved within his team.

Confirmation and Concealment

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

Stern did not divulge specifics about the land operation, citing his company’s future work in the region.

Financing and US Involvement

He told media the mission was financed by “a few generous donors” – with no US government figures involved. Official US funds were not used, at least not that I know of,” Stern asserted.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the US military regarding locations and strategy, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Next Steps and Inspiration

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

Stern said his group would not be involved in that operation, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “That’s for her to determine for herself. But I think she should not go back. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.