The Way a US Special Forces Veteran Assisted María Corina Machado Escape Venezuela

This daring getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado involved a long, frightening and very wet boat journey in the pitch black of night, according to the US veteran who claims to have commanded the mission.

The Dangerous Nocturnal Voyage

The rescue organizer, who heads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a recent interview. “It was dangerous. It was terrifying,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting rough and moonless seas 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 bigger the swells, the harder it is for radar to see,” he remarked.

He described meeting Machado out at sea after she departed from the country, where she had been lying low since August 2024 due to fear of targeting by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Escape Plan

She boarded his boat for a 13- to 14-hour journey to an secret location to board a flight, as part of orchestrated just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – very little moon, some cloud coverage, extremely low visibility, 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 very excited. She was very tired,” adding that about two dozen people were directly involved within his organization.

Verification and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was responsible for the operation, which began on Tuesday. This account comes after earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave her hideout in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and US Involvement

He stated publicly the endeavor was funded through “a few generous donors” – with no US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, to my knowledge,” Stern asserted.

He clarified, though, that his group did coordinate informally with the American armed forces regarding positioning and plans, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Next Steps and Inspiration

Machado said she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to return home, though it is not clear how or when.

Stern indicated his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of countries, not bringing them back. “That’s for her to determine for herself. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.