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This audacious escape of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, frightening and very wet boat journey in the pitch black of night, according to the American man who claims to have commanded the mission.

The Dangerous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, detailed the operation in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered ideal concealment 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,” he remarked.

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

A Step-by-Step Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an secret location to catch a plane, in a mission orchestrated just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, boats have no lights. 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 actively participating within his team.

Confirmation and Concealment

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to flee her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and American Role

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, at least not that I know of,” Stern asserted.

He clarified, though, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, primarily to prevent being mistakenly fired upon.

Next Steps and Admiration

Machado said she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, 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 in. “She must decide that for herself. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.