The Way a US Special Forces Veteran Assisted María Corina Machado Flee Her Homeland

This daring getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, “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 Crossing

The rescue organizer, who heads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the operation in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” stated 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 bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” Stern said.

He described rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left Venezuela, where she had been in hiding for over a year due to fear of persecution by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Step-by-Step Escape Plan

Machado embarked on his boat for a 13- to 14-hour trip to an secret location to board a flight, in a mission orchestrated just four days earlier. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, a little bit of cloud cover, very hard to see, vessels running dark. Everyone was quite damp. My team and I were soaked to the gills. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She had a very arduous journey,” Stern added.

Regarding her state, he commented, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was very tired,” and noted about twenty-four people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

A representative for Machado confirmed that Stern’s company was responsible for the extraction, which commenced earlier in the week. This report follows previous reporting that Machado used a wig and costume to leave her hideout in a outskirts of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Funding and US Role

He stated publicly the endeavor was financed by “a few generous donors” – with no 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 positioning and plans, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Admiration

Machado said she had US support to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to go back, 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 getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “She must decide that and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.