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This daring getaway of political leader María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, “scary” and very wet boat journey in the pitch black of night, according to the American man who says he led the operation.

The Perilous Nocturnal Voyage

Bryan Stern, who leads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the operation in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting dark and choppy conditions 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 bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left the country, where she had been lying low 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 13- to 14-hour journey to an undisclosed location to board a flight, in a mission planned just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Describing her condition, he said, She was elated. She was very excited. She was very tired,” and noted about twenty-four people were actively participating within his team.

Verification and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which began on Tuesday. This report follows earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and American Involvement

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

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

Next Steps and Admiration

Machado said she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he said.