🔗 Share this article From that Venezuelan capital 'fort' to a New York court: The Venezuelan leader's seizure in photographs as well as geographic charts. American officials claim the military operation to capture Venezuela's leader involved many weeks of planning, but when the US President issued the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately two and a half hours. The surprise early-morning attack this past weekend represented a never-before-seen incident within contemporary international relations and resulted in the arrest for Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores. Apprehended by troops from an elite US army unit as they tried to escape into a fortified secure chamber, the couple 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 With daybreak that morning, the extent of the military operation in Caracas, the nation's capital, became apparent. Pictures from the vast military base, a massive army installation where key officials reside, depict blasted structures and burned, smouldering cars. The location was this facility where the president and first lady were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official stated. Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest armed forces facility, was targeted in American airstrikes in the early hours of that Saturday. Hours Before - The President Issues the Order The mission commenced amid reports of explosions at about 02:00 local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time). The US cut power to the city, Trump later described, describing it as pitch black and dangerous. The aim was to disable Venezuela's air defences and open up the way for American assault helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna. Our evaluation was that we successfully kept completely the advantage of surprise," the top general commented. Targeted sites included the base, a port and an airfield. Pictures depict Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with massive fires visible from a great distance. The country announced a national emergency following the American attacks. Residents reported how US military helicopters flew low above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna. A number of the aircraft were shot at, however managed to continue flying, officials said. There was significant gunfire," the President added. US military helicopters soaring above Caracas, with plumes of smoke from prior bombings plainly seen. A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, moved quickly. They entered the facility just after 2 AM local time, and the presidential couple surrendered without a struggle, as per reports. But, further information emerged. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker. The secure room was constructed of steel, and he failed to get to the door because our guys were too quick. "It was an extremely heavy entryway, a very heavy door," the President informed the media. He reached the entrance. He was unable to shut it." However, even assuming they had managed to get into the safe room, forces could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds". From Caracas to Manhattan Now in US custody, the couple were moved approximately 3,400 kilometers, to New York City. They were taken by air from the capital by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was back "over the water" by 04:29. Aboard the vessel that one of the defining pictures from the entire mission emerged - the president in handcuffs, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold that looked like opaque glasses. A photograph showing the detained leader reportedly taken on board the USS Iwo Jima. From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay. They then traveled on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, and then via helicopter into New York City. A helicopter carrying the detainees touches down on a landing pad in Manhattan. Maduro was spotted showing 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 was released showing the detainee at the federal drug agency's headquarters in the city. He and Cilia Flores are presently being held at a federal holding facility in the city. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, owning automatic weapons and explosives, and plots to possess machine guns and bombs against the US. "They will soon face the complete force of American justice on American soil within US courtrooms," a senior legal official declared. Footage shows Maduro's arrival in US and journey to detention.