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The audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, frightening and soaking sea crossing in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the US veteran who claims to have commanded the mission.

The Dangerous Nighttime Crossing

The rescue organizer, who heads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the mission in a recent media appearance. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that also provided convenient cover for the flight.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

He described meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from 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 half-day journey to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. All of us were pretty wet. 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 very happy. She was very excited. She was exhausted,” and noted about twenty-four people were directly involved within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was behind the extraction, which commenced earlier in the week. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and US Involvement

He told media the mission was financed by “several benefactors” – 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 American backing to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain how or when.

Stern said 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 for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he said.