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The daring escape of political leader María Corina Machado involved a long, frightening and very wet sea crossing in the pitch black of night, according to the US veteran who says he led the mission.

The Dangerous Nocturnal Voyage

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the mission in a recent media appearance. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” stated 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 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 described rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left the country, where she had been lying low for over a year fearing persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Escape Plan

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day journey to an undisclosed location to board a flight, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. Everyone was quite damp. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

Describing her condition, he said, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was very tired,” and noted about two dozen people were actively participating within his team.

Verification and Concealment

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the extraction, which commenced earlier in the week. This account comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and American Role

He stated publicly the mission was funded through “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US officials involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

He said, however, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Inspiration

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 indicated 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. Maria is truly inspirational,” he said.