How a American Military Veteran Aided María Corina Machado Escape Her Homeland

The audacious escape of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, “scary” and soaking sea crossing in the dead of night, according to the American man who says he led the operation.

The Perilous Nocturnal Voyage

Bryan Stern, who heads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the operation in a recent media appearance. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing dark and choppy conditions that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the escape.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

He recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from Venezuela, where she had been lying low for over a year fearing targeting 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 catch a plane, in a mission planned just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, very hard to see, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he said, She was elated. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” and noted about twenty-four people were actively participating within his team.

Verification and Disguise

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This account follows previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her safe house in a outskirts 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 Role

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

He clarified, though, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the US military regarding positioning and plans, largely to avoid being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain how or when.

Stern indicated his group would play no part in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he said.