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The audacious getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a long, “scary” and very wet sea crossing in the pitch black of night, according to the American man who claims to have commanded the operation.

A Dangerous Nighttime Crossing

The rescue organizer, who heads a nonprofit rescue organisation, outlined the operation in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting rough and moonless seas that also provided convenient cover for the flight.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but certainly not water that you would want to be 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 the country, where she had been lying low for over a year due to fear of targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an secret location to catch a plane, as part of planned just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

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

Confirmation and Disguise

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was responsible for the extraction, which commenced earlier in the week. This account 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 details about the ground segment, citing his company’s future work in the country.

Funding and American Involvement

He told media the mission 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 said.

He clarified, though, that his group did coordinate informally with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, primarily to prevent being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Admiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though the specifics remain uncertain the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in that operation, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “She must decide that for herself. But I think she should not go back. But she wants to. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.