🔗 Share this article From the Venezuelan capital stronghold to a New York courtroom: The Venezuelan leader's apprehension in images as well as geographic charts. The US assert their military operation to capture the South American nation's leader took months of careful preparation, however when Donald Trump gave the order to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately 150 minutes. The surprise pre-dawn attack this past weekend represented an unprecedented event within modern politics and resulted in the detention of Venezuela's president along with his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro. Apprehended by soldiers belonging to an elite US army unit as they attempted to flee into a heavily secured secure chamber, the two are now in custody in a detention centre in New York and face drug trafficking and terrorism indictments. A Dawn Raid against Fuerte Tiuna With daybreak that morning, the magnitude of the military operation in the capital, Venezuela's capital, was clear. Images of the vast military base, an enormous military complex where key officials reside, show destroyed structures as well as charred, smouldering cars. It was at this base where the president and first lady were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official stated. The major military base, Venezuela's biggest armed forces facility, was hit in American airstrikes in the early hours of Saturday morning. Hours Earlier - The President Issues the Order "Operation Absolute Resolve" started with reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM in Caracas (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time). American forces cut power to the city, Trump has since said, describing it as "dark and deadly". The objective was to disable Venezuela's air defences and clear the path for US military helicopters to get to the target. Our evaluation was that we had maintained completely the element of surprise", a senior military officer remarked. Strike locations included the base, a port and an airfield. Images show the complex engulfed in flames, with huge flames visible from a great distance. The country declared a state of emergency following the American attacks. Venezuelans have described the way US military helicopters flew low above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna. Some of the helicopters were shot at, however were still able to fly, officials stated. There was a lot of weapons fire," Trump noted. US military helicopters flying over Caracas, with columns of smoke from earlier air strikes plainly seen. A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation Once on the ground, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, sprang into action. They entered to the compound at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple surrendered without a struggle, as per accounts. However, more details were provided. They tried to escape into a safe place, described as a heavily fortified bunker. The secure room is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it to the door because our guys were too quick. "It was an extremely heavy entryway, a very heavy door," Trump informed the media. He reached to the door. He was unable to close it." But even if they had managed to enter the safe room, troops could have breached it in approximately "under a minute." From the Capital to New York City Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved some 3,400 kilometers, to New York City. They were taken by air out of Caracas by helicopter, and taken to a US warship, a warship positioned in the Caribbean. The operation was back "over the water" before 4:30 AM. Aboard the vessel where an iconic image from the entire mission emerged - the president in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold resembling dark sunglasses. A photograph showing the detained leader said to be taken on board the USS Iwo Jima. After leaving the ship, his initial stop was to the US Navy base in Cuba. The Maduros then traveled via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York, and then via helicopter to Manhattan. An aircraft carrying the detainees touches down at a helipad in New York City. Maduro could be seen flashing a V-sign upon arrival at a heliport in the city. Heavy security surrounded the landing zone as the Maduros arrived in Manhattan. Facing The Legal System on American Soil On Saturday, a video was released depicting the detainee at the federal drug agency's main office in the city. He and Cilia Flores are presently being held in a detention centre in the city. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, possession of automatic weapons and destructive devices, and plots to acquire such weapons and bombs to use against America. "They will soon face the full wrath of the US legal system in the United States in American courts," a senior legal official proclaimed. Footage documents Maduro's arrival into American and journey into custody.