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This audacious escape 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 claims to have commanded the mission.

The Dangerous Nighttime Voyage

The rescue organizer, who heads a rescue nonprofit, detailed the operation in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was scary,” stated Stern, an ex-special forces operative, recounting rough and moonless seas that also provided ideal concealment for the flight.

“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,” he remarked.

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she departed from Venezuela, where she had been lying low for over a year due to fear of persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Detailed Extraction

Machado embarked on his boat for a half-day journey to an undisclosed location to board a flight, as part of orchestrated just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, very hard to see, boats have no lights. 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.

Describing her condition, he said, She was elated. She was very excited. She was very tired,” and noted about twenty-four people were directly involved within his organization.

Confirmation and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was behind the operation, which began on Tuesday. This account follows earlier stories that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and American Involvement

He stated publicly the mission was funded through “several benefactors” – with no US officials involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern said.

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

Next Steps and Admiration

The opposition leader stated she had American backing to leave Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, though the specifics remain uncertain how or when.

Stern indicated his group would play no part in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not bringing them back. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. She is a genuine inspiration,” he concluded.