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The audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, frightening and soaking boat journey in the pitch black of night, according to the US veteran who says he led the operation.

A Perilous Nocturnal Voyage

The rescue organizer, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, detailed the operation in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing dark and choppy conditions that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the escape.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” he remarked.

He described meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from Venezuela, where she had been lying low for over a year due to fear of persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Detailed Escape Plan

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day trip to an secret location to catch a plane, in a mission orchestrated just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he said, She was elated. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” and noted about two dozen people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Disguise

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report follows previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to flee 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 region.

Funding and US Involvement

He told media the endeavor was financed by “a few generous donors” – with no US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

He clarified, though, that his group did coordinate informally with the American armed forces regarding locations and strategy, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Admiration

Machado said she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain the method or timing.

Stern said his group would play no part in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. But I think she should not go back. But she wants to. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.