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This daring getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a long, “scary” and soaking sea crossing in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the US veteran who claims to have commanded the mission.

The Perilous Nighttime Voyage

The rescue organizer, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered convenient cover for the flight.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, 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 meeting Machado out at sea after she left Venezuela, where she had been in hiding for over a year fearing targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an secret location to catch a plane, in a mission orchestrated just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he commented, She was elated. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about two dozen people were directly involved within his organization.

Confirmation and Disguise

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which began on Tuesday. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge details about the land operation, citing his organization's ongoing operations in the region.

Funding and US Role

He told media the endeavor was financed by “a few generous donors” – with no US officials involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, at least not that I know of,” Stern asserted.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the US military regarding locations and strategy, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Inspiration

Machado said she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain how or when.

Stern said 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. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.