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This daring getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a long, frightening and soaking sea crossing in the pitch black of night, according to the American man who says he led the mission.

A Dangerous Nocturnal Crossing

Bryan Stern, who leads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the operation in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, recounting rough and moonless seas that also provided ideal concealment for the escape.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

He described meeting Machado out at sea after she left the country, where she had been lying low for over a year fearing persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Step-by-Step Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day trip to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he said, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was very tired,” and noted about two dozen people were directly involved within his team.

Verification and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the operation, which began on Tuesday. This report follows previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge details about the land operation, citing his company’s future work in the region.

Funding and American Involvement

He told media the mission was financed by “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US officials involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

He clarified, though, that his group did coordinate informally with the US military regarding positioning and plans, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Inspiration

Machado said she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would play no part in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.