How a US Military Vet Assisted María Corina Machado Flee Venezuela

The audacious getaway of political leader María Corina Machado entailed a lengthy, “scary” and very wet boat journey in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who says he led the mission.

The Perilous Nocturnal Voyage

The rescue organizer, who leads a nonprofit rescue organisation, detailed the operation in a recent interview. It was perilous. It was scary,” said Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting dark and choppy conditions that also provided ideal concealment for the flight.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but not water you'd choose to sail 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 lying low since August 2024 fearing persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

A Step-by-Step Extraction

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an undisclosed location to catch a plane, as part of planned just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, a little bit of cloud cover, extremely low visibility, vessels running dark. Everyone was quite damp. My crew and I were drenched. She was pretty cold and wet, too. She endured a grueling passage,” Stern noted.

Regarding her state, he said, “She was very happy. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” and noted about two dozen people were actively participating within his organization.

Verification and Disguise

A representative for Machado verified that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This account follows earlier stories that Machado wore a wig and a disguise to leave 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 region.

Funding and American Role

He stated publicly the mission was funded through “several benefactors” – with no US government figures involved. Official US funds were not used, at least not that I know of,” Stern asserted.

He said, however, that his group did “unofficially collaborate” with the US military regarding locations and strategy, largely to avoid being mistakenly fired upon.

Future Plans and Inspiration

The opposition leader stated she had US support to leave Venezuela. She has declared her intention to return home, though it is not clear the method or timing.

Stern said his group would not be involved in a return mission, as it focuses exclusively on getting people out of 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.