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This audacious getaway of political leader María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, frightening and very wet sea crossing in the pitch black of night, according to the American man who says he led the operation.

The Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the operation in a newly published media appearance. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing 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 bigger the swells, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

He described meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from the country, where she had been lying low for over a year due to fear of targeting by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour trip to an secret location to catch a plane, as part of planned just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, very hard to see, vessels running dark. 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 added.

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

Confirmation and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was behind the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This account follows earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and US Involvement

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

He said, however, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern said his group would not be involved in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he said.