🔗 Share this article The Way a American Military Vet Aided the Venezuelan Opposition Leader Flee Her Homeland This audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a long, “scary” and soaking boat journey in the dead of night, as detailed by the US veteran who says he led the mission. A Dangerous Nocturnal Voyage The rescue organizer, who leads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a newly published interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, an ex-special forces operative, describing rough and moonless seas that simultaneously offered convenient cover for the flight. “The ocean was perfect for our purposes, but not water you'd choose to sail on ... the higher the waves, the more difficult radar detection becomes,” Stern said. He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left the country, where she had been in hiding since August 2024 fearing targeting by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro. A Detailed Escape Plan She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, as part of orchestrated just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, 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 very happy. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” and noted about twenty-four people were directly involved within his team. Verification and Disguise Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was behind the operation, which began on Tuesday. This report comes after previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. Stern did not divulge specifics about the ground segment, referencing his company’s future work in the country. Financing and US Involvement He told media the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – none of whom were 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 American armed forces regarding locations and strategy, primarily to prevent being targeted by airstrikes. Next Steps and Admiration The opposition leader stated she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has declared her intention to go back, though it is not clear the method or timing. Stern said his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it worked only on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine for herself. But I think she should not go back. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.