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The audacious escape of political leader María Corina Machado involved a long, “scary” and very wet sea crossing in the dead of night, as detailed by the US veteran who claims to have commanded the mission.

The Perilous Nighttime Crossing

Bryan Stern, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a recent media appearance. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing dark and choppy conditions that also provided ideal concealment for the flight.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” he remarked.

He described rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she departed from Venezuela, where she had been in hiding for over a year due to fear of targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an secret location to board a flight, in a mission 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 team and I were soaked to the gills. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern added.

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

Confirmation and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was behind the extraction, which commenced earlier in the week. This report follows earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to flee her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge details about the ground segment, citing his company’s future work in the country.

Financing and American Role

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – none of whom were 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 “unofficially collaborate” 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 American backing to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not in. “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.