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This daring getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, “scary” and very wet sea crossing in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who says he led the mission.

A Perilous Nighttime Crossing

The rescue organizer, who leads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing rough and moonless seas that also provided ideal concealment for the escape.

“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,” he remarked.

He described rendezvousing with Machado offshore 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.

The Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day trip to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, in a mission planned just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, vessels running dark. Everyone was quite damp. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern noted.

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

Confirmation and Disguise

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was behind the extraction, which commenced earlier in the week. This report follows previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge specifics about the land operation, citing 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, at least not that I know of,” Stern asserted.

He clarified, though, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Next Steps and Inspiration

Machado said she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would play no part 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. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.