🔗 Share this article From the Caracas stronghold to the Manhattan courtroom: The Venezuelan leader's apprehension through photographs and geographic charts. The US claim their military operation to capture the South American nation's president involved months of planning, however the moment the US President issued the command to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in roughly two and a half hours. The shocking early-morning assault this past weekend represented an unprecedented incident within modern politics and culminated in the arrest of Venezuela's president and his wife, Cilia Flores. Seized by soldiers from an elite American military force as they tried to escape into a heavily secured secure chamber, the pair are now detained in a detention centre within New York City and are confronting narco-terrorism accusations. A Dawn Raid against Fuerte Tiuna With daybreak that morning, the scale of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's capital, became apparent. Pictures of the vast military base, a huge army installation where top government officials live, show bombed out buildings as well as charred, smouldering vehicles. It was at this facility where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández reported. The major military base, the country's largest military complex, was targeted by US strikes in the early hours of Saturday morning. Just Moments Before - The President Issues the Order The mission began amid reports of blasts at approximately 02:00 in Caracas (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time). The US cut power to the city, Trump has since said, describing it as "dark and deadly". The aim was to disable the nation's air defences and clear the path for American assault helicopters to reach the target. Our evaluation was that we had maintained totally the advantage of surprise," a senior military officer remarked. Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airport. Pictures show Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with massive fires visible from a great distance. The country declared a state of emergency following the American attacks. Venezuelans have described how US military helicopters flew low above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna. Some of the helicopters came under fire, however managed to continue flying, military leaders said. There was significant weapons fire," the President added. US military helicopters soaring above the capital, with columns of smoke from prior bombings plainly seen. The Lightning-Fast Ground Assault After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, moved quickly. They entered to the compound at 02:01 Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without a struggle, according to reports. However, more details were provided. They attempted to flee into a secure location, described as a heavily fortified bunker. The secure room is all steel, and he wasn't able to get inside because our guys were too quick. It featured an extremely heavy entryway, a very heavy door," Trump informed the media. He reached the entrance. He could not to close it." But even if they had managed to get into the safe room, troops could have breached it in about "under a minute." From the Capital to Manhattan Currently under American detention, the couple were moved some 2,100 miles, to New York City. They were flown from the capital by helicopter, and taken to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The team was back "over the water" before 4:30 AM. It was on the ship that an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - the president shackled, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold resembling dark sunglasses. An image of Maduro reportedly taken on board the USS Iwo Jima. From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was to the US Navy base in Cuba. They were then flown on a government plane to a military airfield in New York, and then via helicopter into New York City. A helicopter transporting the detainees touches down at a helipad in New York City. Maduro could be seen flashing a V-sign when he arrived at the landing site in New York. Tight security was present around the helipad as the Maduros arrived in Manhattan. Facing The Legal System in US Territory That same day, footage emerged depicting Maduro at the federal drug agency's main office in the city. He and Cilia Flores are now detained in a detention centre in the city. They have been charged with planning drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to acquire such weapons and destructive devices against the US. "They will soon face the complete force of American justice on American soil in American courts," the Attorney General declared. Video documents Maduro's arrival in US and journey into custody.