How a American Military Vet Assisted the Venezuelan Opposition Leader Flee Her Homeland

This audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, frightening and very wet boat journey in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the American man who says he led the operation.

The Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

Bryan Stern, who leads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the operation in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting dark and choppy conditions that simultaneously offered convenient cover for the escape.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the bigger the swells, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

He recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she left Venezuela, where she had been in hiding for over a year fearing persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Detailed Extraction

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour trip to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, 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 added.

Regarding her state, he commented, She was elated. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” and noted about twenty-four people were directly involved within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her safe house in a suburb 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 Role

He told media the endeavor was funded through “several benefactors” – none of whom were US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, at least not that I know of,” Stern asserted.

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

Next Steps and Inspiration

Machado said she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to return home, though the specifics remain uncertain the method or timing.

Stern said his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he said.