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This daring getaway of political leader María Corina Machado involved a long, frightening and very wet sea crossing in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the American man who claims to have commanded the operation.

The Perilous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the mission in a newly published interview. It was perilous. It was scary,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing rough and moonless seas that also provided convenient cover for the escape.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the bigger the swells, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” he remarked.

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

A Step-by-Step Escape Plan

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day trip to an secret location to catch a plane, as part of planned just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was also chilled and wet. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

Regarding her state, he commented, She was elated. She was very excited. She was very tired,” adding that about twenty-four people were directly involved within his team.

Verification and Disguise

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report follows earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to flee her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and American Involvement

He told media the mission was financed by “a few generous donors” – with no US government figures 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 US military regarding positioning and plans, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Next Steps and Inspiration

Machado said she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to return home, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in that operation, as it worked only on getting people out of countries, not in. “She must decide that and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.