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The daring getaway of political leader María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, “scary” and very wet sea crossing in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the American man who says he led the operation.

A Perilous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who heads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a recent interview. It was perilous. It was scary,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting rough and moonless seas that also provided convenient cover for the escape.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the higher the waves, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left Venezuela, where she had been lying low since August 2024 due to fear of targeting by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an secret location to catch a plane, as part of planned just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, 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 noted.

Describing her condition, he said, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about twenty-four people were actively participating within his organization.

Confirmation and Disguise

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This account comes after earlier stories that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share specifics about the land operation, citing his company’s future work in the country.

Financing and American Involvement

He stated publicly the mission was financed by “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US government figures involved. Official US funds were not used, at least not that I know of,” Stern said.

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

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern said his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it worked only on getting people out of 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 concluded.