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This audacious getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a long, frightening and very wet sea crossing in the pitch black of night, according to the American man who says he led the operation.

A Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

The rescue organizer, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, detailed the mission in a newly published interview. It was perilous. It was terrifying,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, describing rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered convenient cover for the flight.

“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 departed from the country, where she had been in hiding for over a year due to fear of targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Detailed Extraction

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour trip to an secret location to board a flight, as part of planned just four days earlier. “This was in the middle of the night – very little moon, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, boats have no lights. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. 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,” adding that about twenty-four people were directly involved within his organization.

Confirmation and Concealment

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the extraction, which began on Tuesday. This report 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 region.

Financing and US Role

He stated publicly the mission was financed by “several benefactors” – none of whom were US officials involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

He clarified, though, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” 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 said his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. But she wants to. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.