🔗 Share this article From within the Caracas stronghold to a New York courtroom: The Venezuelan leader's capture in images as well as maps. The US assert the military operation aimed at apprehending Venezuela's leader involved months of planning, however when the US President issued the command to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" only lasted approximately 150 minutes. The shocking early-morning strike on Saturday represented a never-before-seen event within modern politics and resulted in the detention of Venezuela's president along with his spouse, Cilia Flores. Captured by soldiers from an elite American military force when they attempted to flee inside a heavily secured safe room, the pair are now being held in a detention centre in New York and face drug trafficking and terrorism charges. A Dawn Raid against the Military Complex At sunrise on Saturday, the magnitude of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's capital, was evident. Images of Fuerte Tiuna, a massive army installation in which senior leadership reside, depict blasted buildings and charred, smoking cars. The location was this base where the president and first lady were apprehended, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández indicated. The major military base, Venezuela's largest armed forces facility, was hit in American airstrikes in the early hours of that Saturday. Hours Earlier - The President Gives the Command "Operation Absolute Resolve" started amid reports of blasts at approximately 2 AM in Caracas (06:00 GMT). The US cut power across the capital, the President has since said, describing it as "dark and deadly". The aim was to neutralize the nation's air defences and clear the path for American assault helicopters to reach the target. "We assessed that we successfully kept completely the element of surprise", the top general remarked. Strike locations encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Images depict Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with huge flames seen for miles. Venezuela announced a state of emergency in the wake of the American attacks. Venezuelans reported the way US military helicopters flew low above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna. Some of the helicopters were shot at, but were still able to fly, officials said. There was significant weapons fire," Trump noted. American aircraft flying over Caracas, with columns of smoke from earlier air strikes clearly visible. A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed. They entered the facility just after 2 AM Caracas time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without a struggle, as per reports. However, further information emerged. They attempted to flee into a secure location, described as a military "fortress". The secure room was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to make it to the door as our personnel were too quick. It featured an extremely heavy door, a very heavy door," Trump told reporters. "He made it the entrance. He was unable to shut it." However, even assuming they had managed to enter the bunker, troops could have blown it open in approximately "under a minute." From the Capital to New York City Now in US custody, the couple were moved approximately 3,400 kilometers, to New York City. They were taken by air out of Caracas by helicopter, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was completed in international waters by 04:29. It was on the ship where an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - the president in handcuffs, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold that looked like opaque glasses. An image of Maduro said to be captured aboard the warship. From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown to the US Navy base in Cuba. They then traveled on a government plane to a military airfield in New York state, and then via helicopter into New York City. An aircraft transporting the Maduros touches down at a helipad in Manhattan. The Venezuelan leader was spotted flashing a V-sign when he arrived at the landing site in New York. Heavy security was present around the landing zone as the Maduros arrived in Manhattan. Facing Justice in American Soil That same day, a video emerged depicting Maduro at the federal drug agency's headquarters in the city. He and Cilia Flores are presently being held at a federal holding facility within the city. They face charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the US. "They will soon face the complete force of the US legal system on American soil within US courtrooms," a senior legal official proclaimed. Footage shows Maduro's arrival into American and journey to detention.