The Way a American Military Vet Assisted María Corina Machado Flee Her Homeland

The daring escape of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, frightening and very wet boat journey in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the American man who claims to have commanded the mission.

The Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

Bryan Stern, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that also provided ideal concealment for the escape.

“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,” he remarked.

He recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from Venezuela, where she had been lying low for over a year due to fear of targeting by the government 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 board a flight, as part of planned just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was also chilled and wet. She had a very arduous journey,” 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 Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which began on Tuesday. This account follows previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to flee her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share details about the land operation, citing his company’s future work in the region.

Financing and American Role

He told media the mission was financed by “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, primarily to prevent being mistakenly fired upon.

Next Steps and Inspiration

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

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.