🔗 Share this article

American officials assert the military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's leader required months of careful preparation, however when the US President gave the command to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" only lasted roughly two and a half hours.

The unexpected pre-dawn assault on Saturday signified a never-before-seen incident within contemporary international relations and resulted in the detention for Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by troops from an elite US army unit while they attempted to escape inside a fortified secure chamber, the two are now in custody in a detention centre in New York and face drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.

The Early Morning Raid on Fuerte Tiuna

With daybreak that morning, the magnitude of the military operation in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, was evident.

Photographs of Fuerte Tiuna, an enormous military complex in which senior leadership live, show bombed out buildings and burned, smoking cars.

It was at this facility that Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official indicated.

Hours Earlier - Trump Issues the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" began amid reports of explosions at approximately 02:00 in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

American forces disabled electricity to the city, the President later described, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The goal was to disable Venezuela's air defences and clear the path for American assault helicopters to reach the target.

Our evaluation was that we successfully kept totally the element of surprise", the top general commented.

Targeted sites encompassed the base, a maritime facility and an airport. Images depict the complex on fire, with huge flames visible for miles.

Residents reported how US military helicopters flew low over Caracas, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, but were still able to fly, military leaders stated.

There was significant gunfire," Trump added.

A Rapid Ground Assault

Once on the ground, troops from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed.

They entered to the compound at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without a struggle, according to accounts.

But, more details were provided. They attempted to flee into a secure location, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to get to the door as our personnel were too quick.

It featured an extremely heavy door, a very heavy door," Trump told reporters. He reached the entrance. He was unable to close it."

But even if they had managed to enter the bunker, forces could have breached it in about "under a minute."

From Caracas to New York City

Currently under American detention, the couple were moved some 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air from the capital by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a naval vessel positioned off the coast. The operation was completed "over the water" before 4:30 AM.

It was on the ship where one of the defining pictures from the entire mission emerged - the president shackled, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear resembling dark sunglasses.

After leaving the ship, his initial stop was at the American naval installation in Cuba.

They then traveled via official aircraft to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, before a final helicopter transfer to Manhattan.

Facing The Legal System in US Territory

That same day, a video was released depicting the detainee at the federal drug agency's headquarters in New York.

The couple are presently being held at a federal holding facility in the city.

They have been charged with planning drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and plots to acquire machine guns and bombs to use against America.

They are set to encounter the complete force of the US legal system in the United States in American courts," a senior legal official declared.

Video documents Maduro's arrival into American and transport into custody.