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This daring getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, “scary” and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who says he led the operation.

A Perilous Nighttime Crossing

The rescue organizer, who leads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the operation in a newly published media appearance. It was perilous. It was scary,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, recounting rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered convenient cover for the escape.

“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 left the country, where she had been lying low since August 2024 due to fear of 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, in a mission orchestrated just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, a little bit of cloud cover, very hard to see, vessels running dark. Everyone was quite damp. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was also chilled and wet. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

Regarding her state, he said, She was elated. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” adding that about twenty-four people were actively participating within his team.

Confirmation and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s company was responsible for the operation, which began on Tuesday. This account follows previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to flee her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share specifics about the ground segment, citing his organization's ongoing operations in the region.

Financing and American Involvement

He told media the mission was financed by “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the US military regarding positioning and plans, primarily to prevent being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Admiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern said his group would play no part in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not in. “She must decide that for herself. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.