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The daring escape of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a long, “scary” and soaking boat journey in the dead of night, as detailed by the US veteran who claims to have commanded the operation.

The Perilous Nocturnal Voyage

The rescue organizer, who heads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the operation in a recent interview. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting rough and moonless seas that also provided ideal concealment for the flight.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” he remarked.

He described rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she departed from the country, where she had been in hiding since August 2024 fearing persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an secret location to board a flight, as part of planned just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. All of us were pretty wet. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

Describing her condition, he commented, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about two dozen people were directly involved within his organization.

Confirmation and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was responsible for the operation, 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.

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

Funding and American Involvement

He stated publicly the mission was financed by “several benefactors” – with no US officials involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

He clarified, though, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the US military regarding positioning and plans, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Admiration

Machado said she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern said his group would play no part in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.