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This audacious getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, “scary” and soaking sea crossing in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the US veteran who claims to have commanded the mission.

A Perilous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who heads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting dark and choppy conditions that also provided ideal concealment for the flight.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” he remarked.

He described meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from the country, where she had been in hiding since August 2024 fearing targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Extraction

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, in a mission orchestrated just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

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

Verification and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which began on Tuesday. This report comes after earlier stories that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge details about the land operation, citing his company’s future work in the country.

Funding and US Role

He told media the endeavor was financed by “several benefactors” – none of whom were US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

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

Next Steps and Inspiration

Machado said 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 said his group would not be involved in that operation, as it worked only on getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.