🔗 Share this article From within the Venezuelan capital stronghold to the Manhattan courtroom: The Venezuelan leader's apprehension through pictures as well as geographic charts. The US claim their military operation aimed at apprehending Venezuela's president required months of careful preparation, yet the moment Donald Trump issued the command to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" concluded after roughly two and a half hours. The unexpected early-morning strike on Saturday represented a never-before-seen incident in contemporary international relations and led directly to the arrest of Venezuela's president and his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro. Apprehended by troops from an elite US army unit while they tried to escape into a heavily secured secure chamber, the two are currently detained in a detention centre within New York City and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism charges. The Early Morning Raid against the Military Complex At sunrise on Saturday, the scale of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's capital, was evident. Images of the vast military base, a huge military complex where top government officials reside, show blasted buildings and burned, smoking cars. It was at this facility that the president and first lady were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández indicated. The major military base, the country's biggest armed forces facility, was hit by US strikes in the early hours of Saturday morning. Just Moments Earlier - Trump Gives the Command The mission commenced with reports of blasts at approximately 02:00 in Caracas (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time). The US disabled electricity across the capital, Trump has since said, describing it as "dark and deadly". The objective was to neutralize Venezuela's air defences and clear the way for US military helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna. Our evaluation was that we successfully kept totally the element of surprise", a senior military officer remarked. Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Images show the complex on fire, with huge flames visible for miles. Venezuela announced a state of emergency in the wake of the American attacks. Venezuelans have described the way American choppers flew low over Caracas, heading for Fuerte Tiuna. A number of the aircraft were shot at, however were still able to fly, military leaders stated. There was significant gunfire," the President added. US military helicopters soaring above the capital, with columns of smoke from earlier air strikes plainly seen. A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation After landing, forces from an elite special operations unit, sprang into action. They gained access the facility at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple surrendered without a struggle, as per reports. But, more details emerged. The Maduros attempted to flee into a secure location, described as a heavily fortified bunker. "The safe place is all steel, and he failed to make it inside because our guys were so fast. It featured a very thick entryway, a massive door," Trump informed the media. He reached to the door. He was unable to shut it." But even if they had succeeded to get into the bunker, troops could have blown it open in about "47 seconds". From Caracas to Manhattan Now in US custody, the couple were transported some 2,100 miles, to Manhattan. They were flown from the capital via chopper, and taken to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was completed in international waters before 4:30 AM. Aboard the vessel that an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - Maduro shackled, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses. An image of Maduro reportedly taken on board the USS Iwo Jima. From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was at the American naval installation in Cuba. The Maduros then traveled on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, and then via helicopter into New York City. An aircraft carrying the Maduros touches down on a landing pad in New York City. The Venezuelan leader was spotted showing a V-sign upon arrival at the landing site in New York. Tight security surrounded the landing zone as the Maduros arrived in New York City. Confronting Justice in American Soil That same day, a video emerged depicting the detainee at the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in the city. The couple are now detained at a federal holding facility within the city. They have been charged including planning narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and explosives, and plots to possess such weapons and bombs to use against America. They are set to encounter the complete force of American justice on American soil in American courts," a senior legal official declared. Footage documents the leader's entry into American and transport into custody.