The audacious escape of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a long, frightening and very wet sea crossing in the dead of night, as detailed by the American man who says he led the mission.
A Perilous Nighttime Voyage
Bryan Stern, who leads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the operation in a recent media appearance. It was perilous. It was scary,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing dark and choppy conditions 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 higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” he remarked.
He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left the country, where she had been lying low for over a year due to fear of persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.
A Detailed Escape Plan
Machado embarked on his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an undisclosed location to board a flight, as part of planned just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern added.
Describing her condition, he commented, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was very tired,” adding that about twenty-four people were directly involved within his team.
Verification and Concealment
Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This report follows earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.
Stern did not divulge details about the land operation, citing his organization's ongoing operations in the country.
Funding 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, at least not that I know of,” Stern asserted.
He clarified, though, that his group did coordinate informally with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, largely to avoid being targeted by airstrikes.
Next Steps and Admiration
Machado said she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though the specifics remain uncertain the method or timing.
Stern said his group would play no part in a return mission, as it worked only on getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.
