🔗 Share this article

This audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, “scary” and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, according to the American man who claims to have commanded the operation.

A Dangerous Nocturnal Voyage

Bryan Stern, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the mission in a recent interview. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that also provided 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 more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

He recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from Venezuela, where she had been in hiding for over a year fearing targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Step-by-Step Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day trip to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, in a mission orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he commented, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” and noted about two dozen people were actively participating within his team.

Confirmation and Disguise

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

The veteran declined to share details about the ground segment, referencing his organization's ongoing operations in the country.

Funding and US Involvement

He stated publicly the endeavor 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 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 Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain how or when.

Stern indicated his group would play no part in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “That’s for her to determine for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he said.