🔗 Share this article From that Caracas 'fort' to a Manhattan court: The Venezuelan leader's apprehension in photographs and geographic charts. The US claim the military operation to capture the South American nation's leader required many weeks of planning, however the moment the US President gave the order to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately two and a half hours. The shocking early-morning attack this past weekend represented a historic incident in contemporary international relations and resulted in the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro. Captured by troops belonging to a top-tier US army unit while they attempted to flee into a heavily secured secure chamber, the two are currently in custody in a detention centre within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism accusations. The Early Morning Raid against the Military Complex At sunrise on Saturday, the scale of the military operation in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, became apparent. Photographs from the vast military base, an enormous army installation where senior leadership reside, depict bombed out buildings as well as burned, smouldering vehicles. It was at this base that Maduro and his wife were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández reported. The major military base, Venezuela's biggest military complex, was targeted in American airstrikes early on Saturday morning. Hours Earlier - The President Gives the Order "Operation Absolute Resolve" commenced amid reports of blasts around 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT). The US disabled electricity to the city, Trump has since said, calling it pitch black and dangerous. The objective was to disable Venezuela's air defense systems and clear the path for American assault helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna. "We assessed that we successfully kept totally the advantage of surprise," the top general stated. Strike locations encompassed the compound, a port and an airfield. Pictures depict Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with massive fires seen from a great distance. Venezuela announced a state of emergency following the US strikes. Venezuelans have described the way American choppers flew low above the city, heading for the military base. Some of the helicopters came under fire, but were still able to fly, military leaders said. "It was significant gunfire," Trump noted. US military helicopters flying over the capital, with columns of smoke from prior bombings clearly visible. A Rapid Ground Assault Once on the ground, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed. They gained access to the compound just after 2 AM local time, and the Maduros surrendered without resistance, as per reports. But, further information were provided. They attempted to flee into a secure location, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker. "The safe place is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside because our guys were so fast. "It was a very thick entryway, a very heavy door," Trump told reporters. "He made it to the door. He was unable to close it." But even if they had managed to get into the safe room, forces could have blown it open in about "47 seconds". From Caracas to Manhattan Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported some 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan. They were flown from the capital by helicopter, and taken to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was completed "over the water" by 04:29. Aboard the vessel that an iconic image from the entire mission was captured - Maduro shackled, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold that looked like opaque glasses. A photograph of Maduro reportedly taken on board the USS Iwo Jima. After leaving the ship, he was first flown to the US Navy base in Cuba. The Maduros were then flown via official aircraft to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, and then via helicopter into New York City. A helicopter carrying the detainees lands on a landing pad in New York City. Maduro was spotted flashing a peace sign upon arrival at the landing site in New York. Tight security was present around the helipad as the Maduros arrived in Manhattan. Confronting The Legal System in American Soil That same day, a video was released depicting Maduro at the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in New York. The couple are now detained in a detention centre in the city. They face charges with planning drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning automatic weapons and explosives, and plots to acquire machine guns and bombs against the US. "They will soon face the full wrath of the US legal system in the United States in American courts," a senior legal official declared. Footage documents the leader's entry into American and journey to detention.