How a American Special Forces Vet Assisted the Venezuelan Opposition Leader Escape Her Homeland

The audacious escape of political leader María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, frightening and soaking sea crossing in the dead of night, as detailed by the US veteran who says he led the mission.

A Perilous Nocturnal Voyage

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the operation in a recent interview. It was perilous. It was scary,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing dark and choppy conditions that also provided convenient cover for the escape.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

He described rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she departed from Venezuela, where she had been lying low for over a year due to fear of persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Extraction

She boarded his boat for a half-day trip to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, in a mission planned just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, 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 added.

Describing her condition, he commented, She was elated. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about twenty-four people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which began on Tuesday. This account comes after 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 ground segment, citing his organization's ongoing operations in the region.

Funding and US Involvement

He stated publicly the endeavor was financed by “a few generous donors” – with no US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, largely to avoid being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Admiration

Machado said she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to return home, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in that operation, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. Maria is truly inspirational,” he said.