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

The Dangerous Nocturnal Voyage

Bryan Stern, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a recent media appearance. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, recounting dark and choppy conditions that simultaneously offered convenient cover for the escape.

“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 recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from the country, where she had been lying low since August 2024 due to fear of persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an secret location to board a flight, in a mission planned just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, 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 also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Describing her condition, 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 Disguise

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This account comes after earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to flee her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and American Involvement

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “several benefactors” – 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 asserted.

He clarified, though, that his group did coordinate informally with the US military regarding locations and strategy, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Next Steps and Admiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support to leave 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 that operation, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that and for her to decide. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.