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The audacious getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed 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 Dangerous Nighttime Crossing

Bryan Stern, who leads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the operation in a recent interview. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, recounting rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered convenient cover for the flight.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

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

A Detailed Extraction

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an secret location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

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

Verification and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and US Role

He stated publicly the mission was funded through “several benefactors” – none of whom were US officials involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the US military regarding locations and strategy, largely to avoid being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Admiration

Machado said she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to return home, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern said his group would not be involved in that operation, as it worked only on getting people out of countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.