🔗 Share this article From within that Caracas stronghold to a New York court: Maduro's capture in pictures as well as maps. American officials state their military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president took months of planning, yet when the US President issued the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after roughly 150 minutes. The surprise pre-dawn assault on Saturday signified a never-before-seen incident in contemporary international relations and led directly to the detention of Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro. Captured by soldiers belonging to an elite US army unit when they attempted to flee inside a heavily secured panic room, the pair are now in custody at a holding facility within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism charges. The Early Morning Raid against the Military Complex At sunrise that morning, the scale of the armed intervention in the capital, the nation's primary city, was evident. Images from the vast military base, a massive army installation in which top government officials live, depict bombed out structures and charred, smoking vehicles. It was at this facility where the president and first lady were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official reported. The major military base, Venezuela's largest armed forces facility, was struck by US strikes in the early hours of that Saturday. Hours Earlier - Trump Issues the Order The mission began amid reports of explosions around 02:00 in Caracas (06:00 GMT). American forces cut power to the city, Trump has since said, describing it as pitch black and dangerous. The aim was to disable Venezuela's air defences and open up the way for US military helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna. "We assessed that we successfully kept completely the element of surprise", a senior military officer remarked. Strike locations included the base, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures depict the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen from a great distance. The country announced a national emergency following the American attacks. Venezuelans reported the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude over Caracas, en route to Fuerte Tiuna. A number of the aircraft were shot at, but managed to continue flying, officials said. There was significant gunfire," Trump added. American aircraft soaring above Caracas, with columns of smoke from prior bombings clearly visible. A Lightning-Fast Ground Assault After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed. They entered to the compound just after 2 AM local time, and the Maduros "gave up" without a struggle, according to reports. But, further information emerged. They tried to escape into a secure location, described as a heavily fortified bunker. "The safe place is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside as our personnel were too quick. It featured an extremely heavy entryway, a massive door," the President informed the media. He reached to the door. He was unable to shut it." But even if they had managed to enter the bunker, forces could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds". From Caracas to New York City Now in US custody, the couple were moved some 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan. They were taken by air from the capital via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel stationed off the coast. The team was back in international waters by 04:29. Aboard the vessel where one of the defining pictures from the entire mission was captured - Maduro in handcuffs, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses. An image of Maduro reportedly taken on board the USS Iwo Jima. After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba. The Maduros then traveled on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, and then via helicopter into New York City. An aircraft carrying the detainees touches down at a helipad in Manhattan. The Venezuelan leader was spotted showing a peace sign upon arrival at the landing site in the city. Tight security surrounded the landing zone as the Maduros arrived in New York City. Confronting The Legal System on American Soil On Saturday, a video emerged showing the detainee at the federal drug agency's main office in New York. He and Cilia Flores are now being held at a federal holding facility within the city. They face charges including conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, owning automatic weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices to use against America. "They will soon face the complete force of American justice in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General proclaimed. Footage shows the leader's entry in US and transport to detention.