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This daring escape of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a long, “scary” and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, as detailed by the American man who says he led the mission.

A Dangerous Nocturnal Voyage

The rescue organizer, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a newly published media appearance. 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 bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

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

A Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day trip to an secret location to board a flight, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he said, She was elated. She was thrilled. She was very tired,” adding that about twenty-four people were actively participating within his team.

Confirmation and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado verified that Stern’s company was behind the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This account comes after earlier stories that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and American Involvement

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

Future Plans and Admiration

Machado said she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain the method or timing.

Stern said his group would not be involved in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.