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This daring getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a lengthy, frightening and soaking sea crossing in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the American man who says he led the mission.

The Perilous Nocturnal Crossing

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

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the higher the waves, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said.

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left Venezuela, where she had been lying low for over a year due to fear of persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day trip to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. 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 commented, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about twenty-four people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Disguise

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to flee her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share details about the land operation, citing his organization's ongoing operations in the country.

Financing and US Involvement

He told media the mission was funded through “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, largely to avoid being targeted by airstrikes.

Next Steps and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to return home, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern indicated his group would play no part in that operation, as it worked only 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.