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This daring escape of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a long, frightening and very wet boat journey in the pitch black of night, according to the American man who says he led the operation.

The Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

The rescue organizer, who leads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the mission in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered ideal concealment for the flight.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” he remarked.

He recalled meeting Machado out at sea after she left the country, where she had been lying low since August 2024 due to fear of targeting by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an secret location to catch a plane, in a mission planned just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, 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 also chilled and wet. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

Describing her condition, he said, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was very tired,” adding that about twenty-four people were directly involved within his organization.

Confirmation and Disguise

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which began on Tuesday. This account follows previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge details about the land operation, citing his organization's ongoing operations in the region.

Financing and American Involvement

He stated publicly 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 asserted.

He said, however, that his group did coordinate informally with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes.

Future Plans and Inspiration

Machado said she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, 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. She is a genuine inspiration,” he said.