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This daring escape of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a long, “scary” and very wet sea crossing in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who claims to have commanded the mission.

The Dangerous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, detailed the mission in a recent 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 higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

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

The Detailed Escape Plan

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day journey to an undisclosed location to board a flight, as part of planned just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, vessels running dark. All of us were pretty wet. My crew and I were drenched. She was also chilled and wet. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

Regarding her state, he said, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” adding that about two dozen people were directly involved within his team.

Verification and Concealment

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s company was responsible for the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report follows previous reporting that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her safe house in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

The veteran declined to share specifics about the land operation, citing his company’s future work in the region.

Funding and American Role

He stated publicly the endeavor was financed by “several benefactors” – 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 US military regarding locations and strategy, primarily to prevent being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Admiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to return home, though the specifics remain uncertain how or when.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. But I think she should not go back. But she wants to. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.