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The audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a long, “scary” and very wet boat journey in the pitch black of night, as detailed by the US veteran who says he led the mission.

The Perilous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who heads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the operation in a recent interview. It was perilous. It was scary,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting dark and choppy conditions 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 harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

He described rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she departed from Venezuela, where she had been in hiding for over a year due to fear of targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day journey to an undisclosed location to board a flight, in a mission orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was also chilled and wet. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

Regarding her state, he said, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was very tired,” and noted about two dozen people were directly involved within his organization.

Confirmation and Concealment

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

The veteran declined to share specifics about the land operation, referencing his company’s future work in the country.

Funding 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 said.

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

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain how or when.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “That’s for her to determine for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.