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This daring getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, frightening and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who says he led the operation.

The Perilous Nighttime Voyage

The rescue organizer, who heads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the mission in a recent media appearance. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing dark and choppy conditions that also provided convenient cover for the escape.

“The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left Venezuela, where she had been in hiding for over a year due to fear of persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Detailed Extraction

She boarded his boat for a half-day trip to an secret location to board a flight, in a mission planned just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, 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 added.

Regarding her state, he commented, She was elated. She was thrilled. She was very tired,” and noted about twenty-four people were directly involved within his team.

Verification and Disguise

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share specifics about the land operation, referencing his organization's ongoing operations in the country.

Financing and US Involvement

He told media the endeavor was financed by “several benefactors” – none of whom were US government figures involved. Official US funds were not used, at least not that I know of,” Stern asserted.

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

Next Steps and Admiration

Machado said she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though the specifics remain uncertain the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would play no part in a return mission, as it worked only on getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.