🔗 Share this article

The US state their armed forces mission aimed at apprehending the South American nation's leader involved many weeks of careful preparation, however when the US President issued the command to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after roughly two and a half hours.

The surprise early-morning strike on Saturday represented a never-before-seen event within modern politics and resulted in the detention of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Seized by soldiers from an elite American military force while they tried to escape into a heavily secured panic room, the pair are now detained at a holding facility within New York City and face narco-terrorism accusations.

The Early Morning Raid against the Military Complex

With daybreak on Saturday, the magnitude of the military operation in the capital, Venezuela's capital, became apparent.

Pictures from the vast military base, a massive military complex where senior leadership reside, show destroyed structures as well as charred, smouldering vehicles.

It was at this base where the president and first lady were captured, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández stated.

Just Moments Earlier - Trump Issues the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" commenced with reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM local time (06:00 GMT).

The US cut power to the city, Trump later described, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The goal was to neutralize Venezuela's air defense systems and clear the way for American assault helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.

"We assessed that we successfully kept totally the advantage of surprise," a senior military officer commented.

Strike locations included the compound, a maritime facility and an airport. Images depict the complex on fire, with massive fires visible from a great distance.

Venezuelans have described how American choppers flew low over Caracas, en route to the military base.

A number of the aircraft came under fire, however managed to continue flying, military leaders said.

"It was significant gunfire," the President added.

The Rapid Ground Assault

After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed.

They entered to the compound just after 2 AM local time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without a struggle, as per accounts.

However, more details emerged. The Maduros attempted to flee into a secure location, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside as our personnel were so fast.

"It was a very thick entryway, a very heavy door," the President told reporters. He reached to the door. He was unable to close it."

But even if they had succeeded to get into the bunker, forces could have breached it in approximately "under a minute."

From Caracas to Manhattan

Now in US custody, the couple were moved approximately 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air from the capital via chopper, and taken to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship positioned in the Caribbean. The team was back in international waters by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel where one of the defining pictures of the whole operation was captured - Maduro shackled, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold resembling dark sunglasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.

They were then flown on a government plane to a military airfield in New York, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Confronting Justice on US Territory

On Saturday, footage was released showing Maduro at the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in the city.

He and Cilia Flores are now detained in a detention centre within the city.

They face charges with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and explosives, and conspiracy to acquire such weapons and destructive devices against the US.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of American justice on American soil within US courtrooms," the Attorney General declared.

Footage documents the leader's entry in US and transport into custody.