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This audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, “scary” and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, according to the American man who claims to have commanded the mission.

A Dangerous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who leads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the operation in a newly published media appearance. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing dark and choppy conditions that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the escape.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

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

A Detailed Escape Plan

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. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

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

Verification and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This account comes after earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to flee her safe house in a outskirts 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 Role

He stated publicly the mission was funded through “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US officials involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

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

Future Plans and Admiration

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

Stern said his group would play no part in a return mission, as it worked only on getting people out of countries, not in. “She must decide that for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.