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The audacious escape of political leader María Corina Machado involved a long, frightening and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, as detailed by the American man who claims to have commanded the operation.

The Perilous Nighttime Voyage

Bryan Stern, who leads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the escape.

“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,” Stern said.

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

The Step-by-Step Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an undisclosed location to board a flight, as part of orchestrated just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, boats have no lights. 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.

Regarding her state, he commented, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” and noted about two dozen people were actively participating within his organization.

Confirmation and Concealment

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s company was behind the operation, which began on Tuesday. This account comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge specifics about the ground segment, citing his organization's ongoing operations in the country.

Funding and American Role

He told media the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, at least not that I know of,” Stern said.

He clarified, though, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the American armed forces regarding locations and strategy, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Inspiration

Machado said she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern indicated his group would play no part in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “She must decide that and for her to decide. But I think she should not go back. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.