🔗 Share this article From that Venezuelan capital stronghold to a Manhattan court: The Venezuelan leader's apprehension in pictures and maps. American officials state the military operation to capture the South American nation's leader involved many weeks of careful preparation, yet when the US President issued the order to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in about 150 minutes. The surprise pre-dawn strike on Saturday marked an unprecedented incident within contemporary international relations and resulted in the arrest for Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores. Apprehended by soldiers from an elite US army unit when they attempted to flee into a heavily secured panic room, the pair are currently being held at a holding facility in New York and are confronting narco-terrorism accusations. The Early Morning Assault on Fuerte Tiuna With daybreak that morning, the extent of the military operation in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, was clear. Images from Fuerte Tiuna, a huge army installation in which key officials reside, show bombed out structures as well as burned, smouldering cars. The location was this compound that Maduro and his wife were captured, a senior political figure a party official reported. The major military base, the country's largest military complex, was hit by US strikes early on Saturday morning. Hours Before - Trump Issues the Command The mission began amid reports of explosions at about 02:00 in Caracas (06:00 GMT). American forces cut power to the city, the President later described, describing it as "dark and deadly". The aim was to disable the nation's air defense systems and open up the path for US military helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna. Our evaluation was that we successfully kept totally the advantage of surprise," a senior military officer stated. Targeted sites included the compound, a port and an airport. Pictures depict the complex engulfed in flames, with huge flames seen for miles. Venezuela announced a national emergency following the US strikes. Residents reported how American choppers flew low above the city, heading for the military base. Some of the helicopters were shot at, but were still able to fly, military leaders stated. There was significant weapons fire," the President noted. American aircraft soaring above Caracas, with plumes of smoke from prior bombings plainly seen. The Rapid Ground Assault Once on the ground, forces from an elite special operations unit, moved quickly. They gained access to the compound at 02:01 Caracas time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without resistance, as per reports. However, more details were provided. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, described as a military "fortress". "The safe place was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to make it to the door as our personnel were too quick. "It was an extremely heavy door, a very heavy door," Trump informed the media. He reached to the door. He could not to shut it." But even if they had managed to get into the safe room, forces could have blown it open in approximately "under a minute." From Caracas to Manhattan Currently under American detention, the couple were transported approximately 2,100 miles, to New York City. They were taken by air from the capital via chopper, and taken to a US warship, a naval vessel positioned off the coast. The operation was completed "over the water" before 4:30 AM. Aboard the vessel that an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - the president shackled, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold that looked like dark sunglasses. An image of Maduro reportedly captured aboard the warship. After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay. They then traveled on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, before a final helicopter transfer to Manhattan. An aircraft transporting the Maduros lands on a landing pad in Manhattan. Maduro could be seen showing a peace sign when he arrived at a heliport in the city. Tight security surrounded the helipad as the Maduros arrived in New York City. Confronting Justice in US Territory That same day, a video was released showing the detainee inside the federal drug agency's headquarters in the city. The couple are now detained at a federal holding facility in the city. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and bombs to use against America. "They will soon face the full wrath of the US legal system on American soil within US courtrooms," the Attorney General proclaimed. Footage shows Maduro's arrival into American and transport to detention.