How a US Military Vet Assisted the Venezuelan Opposition Leader Flee Venezuela

This audacious getaway of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado entailed a long, “scary” and very wet sea crossing in the dead of night, according to the US veteran who claims to have commanded the operation.

The Dangerous Nocturnal Crossing

The rescue organizer, who leads a rescue nonprofit, outlined the mission in a recent media appearance. It was perilous. It was scary,” stated Stern, a US special forces veteran, recounting rough and moonless seas that also provided convenient cover for the flight.

“The sea conditions were ideal for us, but certainly not water that you would want to be on ... the higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see,” he remarked.

He recalled rendezvousing with Machado offshore after she left the country, where she had been lying low since August 2024 fearing persecution by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The Step-by-Step Extraction

She boarded his boat for a half-day journey to an secret location to board a flight, in a mission planned just days before. The operation occurred at midnight – minimal moonlight, some cloud coverage, very hard to see, boats have no lights. 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 noted.

Describing her condition, he commented, She was elated. She was thrilled. She was exhausted,” adding that about twenty-four people were directly involved within his organization.

Confirmation and Concealment

Spokespeople for Machado confirmed that Stern’s foundation was behind the operation, which commenced earlier in the week. This report follows earlier stories that Machado used a wig and costume to flee her safe house in a suburb of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

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

Financing and US Involvement

He told media the endeavor was financed by “a few generous donors” – none of whom were US government figures involved. “The US government did not contribute a single penny, at least not that I know of,” Stern asserted.

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

Next Steps and Admiration

Machado said she had American backing to depart Venezuela. She has announced plans to return home, though the specifics remain uncertain the method or timing.

Stern indicated his group would play no part in that operation, as it focuses exclusively on extracting individuals from countries, not in. “That’s for her to determine and for her to decide. Personally, I advise against returning. Yet she is determined. Maria is truly inspirational,” he concluded.