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The audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, frightening and very wet sea crossing in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who claims to have commanded the operation.

A Dangerous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who leads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a recent media appearance. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that also provided convenient cover 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,” he remarked.

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

The Detailed Extraction

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an secret location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

Regarding her state, he said, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” and noted about twenty-four people were directly involved within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report follows earlier stories that Machado used a wig and costume 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 country.

Funding and US Involvement

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – with no US officials involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

He said, however, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the US military regarding positioning and plans, largely to avoid being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Admiration

Machado said she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern said his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “She must decide that for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.