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This daring getaway of political leader María Corina Machado involved a long, “scary” and soaking sea crossing in the dead of night, according to the American man who says he led the mission.

The Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

Bryan Stern, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a newly published interview. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered convenient cover for the escape.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” he remarked.

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

A Detailed Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day trip to an secret location to catch a plane, as part of planned just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern added.

Regarding her state, he said, She was elated. She was thrilled. She was very tired,” adding that about two dozen people were directly involved within his team.

Confirmation and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was responsible for the operation, which began on Tuesday. This account follows previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share details about the ground segment, referencing his company’s future work in the country.

Financing and US Role

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – with no US officials involved. Official US funds were not used, at least not that I know of,” Stern said.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the American armed forces regarding locations and strategy, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern said 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 for herself. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.