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This daring escape of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a long, “scary” and soaking sea crossing in the pitch black of night, according to the American man who claims to have commanded the mission.

The Perilous Nighttime Voyage

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the operation in a newly published media appearance. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the escape.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the higher the waves, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she departed from Venezuela, where she had been in hiding since August 2024 due to fear of targeting by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an undisclosed location to board a flight, as part of planned just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

Regarding her state, he said, She was elated. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about two dozen people were actively participating within his team.

Confirmation and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report follows previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge details about the land operation, citing his organization's ongoing operations in the country.

Funding and American Role

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

He clarified, though, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the US military regarding positioning and plans, primarily to prevent being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern said his group would play no part in a return mission, 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. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.