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This daring getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, “scary” and soaking boat journey in the dead of night, according to the American man who says he led the mission.

The Perilous Nocturnal Crossing

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the operation in a newly published media appearance. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting dark and choppy conditions that also provided ideal concealment for the flight.

“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 departed from Venezuela, where she had been lying low for over a year fearing persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an undisclosed location to board a flight, in a mission orchestrated just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, vessels running dark. 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.

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 team.

Verification and Concealment

A representative 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 hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge specifics about the ground segment, citing his company’s future work in the region.

Funding and American Involvement

He told media the mission was funded through “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

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

Future Plans and Inspiration

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

Stern said his group would not be involved in a return mission, 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. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.