The Way a American Special Forces Veteran Aided the Venezuelan Opposition Leader Escape Venezuela

The daring getaway of political leader María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, “scary” and soaking sea crossing in the dead of night, according to the American man who claims to have commanded the operation.

The Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a newly published media appearance. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, recounting dark and choppy conditions 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 higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” he remarked.

He recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she left the country, where she had been lying low since August 2024 due to fear of persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour trip to an undisclosed location to board a flight, in a mission orchestrated just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, 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 noted.

Regarding her state, he said, She was elated. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about two dozen people were directly involved within his team.

Verification and Disguise

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This account follows previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to flee her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and US Involvement

He stated publicly the endeavor was financed by “a few generous donors” – with no US government figures involved. Official US funds were not used, at least not that I know of,” Stern asserted.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the US military regarding positioning and plans, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Next Steps and Admiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it worked only on getting people out of countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine for herself. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.