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This audacious escape of political leader María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, “scary” and soaking boat journey in the pitch black of night, according to the US veteran who says he led the operation.

The Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

The rescue organizer, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing dark and choppy conditions that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the escape.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the bigger the swells, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she departed from the country, where she had been lying low since August 2024 due to fear of persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day trip to an secret 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, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he said, She was elated. She was thrilled. She was very tired,” adding that about two dozen people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the extraction, which commenced earlier in the week. This report follows previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share details about the land operation, referencing his organization's ongoing operations in the country.

Financing and American Role

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US officials involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

He clarified, though, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the US military regarding locations and strategy, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain 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 in. “She must decide that and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.