🔗 Share this article

The audacious getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, frightening and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, according to the American man who claims to have commanded the operation.

A Dangerous Nocturnal Voyage

The rescue organizer, who leads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the operation in a recent media appearance. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing dark and choppy conditions that also provided ideal concealment for the flight.

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

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left Venezuela, where she had been in hiding since August 2024 fearing persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Extraction

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an secret location to catch a plane, in a mission orchestrated just days before. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, 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 exhausted,” and noted about twenty-four people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This account follows earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Stern did not divulge details about the land operation, citing his company’s future work in the country.

Funding and American Role

He told media the mission was financed by “a few generous donors” – with no US officials involved. Official US funds were not used, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

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

Future Plans and Admiration

Machado said she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though the specifics remain uncertain how or when.

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