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The daring escape of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a long, frightening and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who says he led the operation.

A Perilous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who heads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a newly published 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 ocean was perfect for our purposes, 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 Venezuela, where she had been in hiding for over a year fearing persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Detailed Extraction

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an secret location to catch a plane, in a mission orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern added.

Regarding her state, he commented, “She was very happy. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” adding that about two dozen people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Disguise

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s company was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This account follows previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and US Involvement

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US government figures involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

He said, however, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the US military regarding locations and strategy, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support 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 play no part in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.