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The daring escape of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, frightening and soaking boat journey in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the American man who says he led the operation.

The Dangerous Nocturnal Crossing

Bryan Stern, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the mission in a newly published interview. It was perilous. It was scary,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that also provided ideal concealment for the escape.

“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 rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she departed from the country, where she had been in hiding since August 2024 due to fear of persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Step-by-Step Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, in a mission planned just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern added.

Regarding her state, he said, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was very tired,” and noted about twenty-four people were actively participating within his organization.

Confirmation and Concealment

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was behind the operation, which began on Tuesday. This report comes after earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share specifics about the land operation, citing his organization's ongoing operations in the region.

Financing and US Role

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

Machado said she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern said his group would play no part in that operation, 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. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.