🔗 Share this article From within that Caracas stronghold all the way to the Manhattan court: Maduro's seizure through pictures and geographic charts. The US claim the military operation to capture the South American nation's leader took many weeks of careful preparation, but when Donald Trump gave the command to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" only lasted about two and a half hours. The unexpected early-morning assault this past weekend signified a never-before-seen event in contemporary international relations and led directly to the arrest of Venezuela's president along with his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro. Apprehended by troops belonging to a top-tier American military force as they tried to escape inside a heavily secured secure chamber, the pair are now detained in a detention centre in New York and are confronting narco-terrorism accusations. A Dawn Assault on the Military Complex As the sun rose that morning, the extent of the military operation in the capital, Venezuela's capital, became apparent. Photographs from the vast military base, a massive army installation in which senior leadership live, reveal destroyed buildings as well as burned, smouldering cars. It was at this facility where the president and first lady were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official stated. Fuerte Tiuna, the country's largest armed forces facility, was struck by US strikes early on that Saturday. Just Moments Before - Trump Gives the Command The mission commenced amid reports of blasts at approximately 2 AM local time (06:00 GMT). American forces disabled electricity across the capital, Trump has since said, describing it as pitch black and dangerous. The aim was to neutralize the nation's air defense systems and clear the path for American assault helicopters to get to the target. "We assessed that we had maintained completely the element of surprise", the top general stated. Strike locations included the compound, a port and an airport. Pictures show Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with huge flames seen for miles. The country declared a state of emergency following the American attacks. Venezuelans have described the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude over Caracas, en route to Fuerte Tiuna. Some of the helicopters came under fire, however managed to continue flying, military leaders said. "It was a lot of weapons fire," Trump added. US military helicopters soaring above Caracas, with columns of smoke from prior bombings plainly seen. A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation Once on the ground, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, sprang into action. They gained access the facility at 02:01 local time, and the Maduros "gave up" without a struggle, according to accounts. However, further information emerged. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, described as a heavily fortified bunker. The secure room was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside as our personnel were too quick. It featured an extremely heavy door, a massive door," the President informed the media. "He made it the entrance. He was unable to shut it." But even if they had managed to enter the bunker, troops could have blown it open in approximately "under a minute." From Caracas to New York City Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan. They were flown out of Caracas by helicopter, and taken to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel stationed off the coast. The operation was back "over the water" before 4:30 AM. It was on the ship that an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - Maduro in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses. An image showing the detained leader reportedly captured aboard the warship. From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was to the US Navy base in Cuba. They then traveled via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York, before a final helicopter transfer into New York City. An aircraft transporting the Maduros touches down on a landing pad in New York City. Maduro was spotted showing a V-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 on US Territory On Saturday, footage emerged depicting the detainee at the federal drug agency's headquarters in the city. The couple are now detained in a detention centre within the city. They face charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and explosives, and conspiracy to acquire such weapons and destructive devices against the US. "They will soon face the complete force of the US legal system on American soil in American courts," a senior legal official declared. Video documents Maduro's arrival into American and journey into custody.