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The daring getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, frightening and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, as detailed by the US veteran who says he led the mission.

The Perilous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a newly published media appearance. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting dark and choppy conditions that simultaneously offered convenient cover for the escape.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

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

The Detailed Extraction

She boarded his boat for a half-day trip to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, as part of planned just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

Describing her condition, he commented, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was very tired,” and noted about twenty-four people were directly involved within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was responsible for the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This report follows earlier stories that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge details about the ground segment, citing his company’s future work in the region.

Funding 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, at least not that I know of,” Stern said.

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

Future Plans and Admiration

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

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in that operation, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.