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The daring getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, “scary” and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who claims to have commanded the operation.

The Perilous Nighttime Crossing

Bryan Stern, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the mission in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, recounting rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the flight.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

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

A Step-by-Step Escape Plan

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day trip to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, in a mission planned just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, very hard to see, boats have no lights. All of us were pretty wet. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he commented, She was elated. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about twenty-four people were directly involved within his organization.

Verification and Disguise

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report follows earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge specifics about the land operation, referencing his organization's ongoing operations in the country.

Financing and American Role

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “several benefactors” – with no 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 targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Admiration

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

Stern said his group would play no part in that operation, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that and for her to decide. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.