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The audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, frightening and soaking sea crossing in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the US veteran who says he led the operation.

The Dangerous Nighttime Crossing

The rescue organizer, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the mission in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting rough and moonless seas 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 higher the waves, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

He described meeting Machado out at sea after she left the country, where she had been lying low since August 2024 fearing persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a 13- to 14-hour trip to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, boats have no lights. 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 added.

Describing her condition, he said, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was very tired,” and noted about twenty-four people were actively participating within his team.

Confirmation and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was responsible for the extraction, which commenced earlier in the week. This report comes after earlier stories that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and US Involvement

He told media the endeavor was financed by “a few generous donors” – with no US government figures involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

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

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “That’s for her to determine for herself. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.