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The daring getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, frightening and very wet sea crossing in the dead of night, as detailed by the US veteran who claims to have commanded the mission.

A Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

The rescue organizer, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a newly published media appearance. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that also provided ideal concealment for the flight.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” he remarked.

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she departed from Venezuela, where she had been in hiding since August 2024 due to fear of persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Step-by-Step Escape Plan

Machado embarked on his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an secret location to board a flight, in a mission orchestrated just days before. “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 pretty cold and wet, too. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern added.

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

Confirmation and Concealment

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This report follows earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share specifics about the land operation, referencing his organization's ongoing operations in the region.

Financing and US Involvement

He stated publicly the mission was funded through “several benefactors” – with no US officials involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

He clarified, though, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Next Steps and Inspiration

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

Stern indicated his group would play no part in that operation, as it worked only on extracting individuals from 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 said.