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The daring getaway of political leader María Corina Machado involved a long, “scary” and soaking boat journey in the dead of night, according to the American man who claims to have commanded the operation.

A Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

The rescue organizer, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, detailed the operation in a recent interview. It was perilous. It was scary,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered convenient cover 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 recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from the country, where she had been in hiding since August 2024 due to fear of targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Step-by-Step Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an secret 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, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern added.

Describing her condition, he said, She was elated. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” adding that about two dozen people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This account follows previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and American Role

He stated publicly the endeavor was financed by “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US officials involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

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

Next Steps and Admiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that and for her to decide. But I think she should not go back. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.