From within that Venezuelan capital stronghold all the way to a New York courtroom: The Venezuelan leader's seizure in pictures and geographic charts.
The US assert the military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president involved months of careful preparation, yet when Donald Trump issued the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately 150 minutes.
The unexpected early-morning assault this past weekend marked a historic event in modern politics and led directly to the arrest for Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.
Captured by troops belonging to a top-tier US army unit as they tried to flee into a fortified secure chamber, the two are now in custody at a holding facility within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism charges.
The Early Morning Raid against the Military Complex
As the sun rose on Saturday, the magnitude of the armed intervention in the capital, Venezuela's primary city, became apparent.
Images from the vast military base, a massive military complex where senior leadership reside, depict bombed out buildings and charred, smoking vehicles.
The location was this base that the president and first lady were captured, a senior political figure a party official indicated.
Just Moments Before - The President Gives the Order
The mission started amid reports of blasts at about 2 AM local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).
American forces cut power to the city, Trump later described, describing it as "dark and deadly".
The aim was to disable the nation's air defences and clear the path for American assault helicopters to get to the target.
Our evaluation was that we had maintained completely the advantage of surprise," the top general remarked.
Targeted sites included the compound, a maritime facility and an airport. Pictures depict Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with massive fires visible from a great distance.
Residents reported the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude above the city, heading for the military base.
A number of the aircraft were shot at, however managed to continue flying, military leaders said.
"It was significant weapons fire," the President added.
The Lightning-Fast Ground Assault
Once on the ground, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, sprang into action.
They entered the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, as per accounts.
But, further information emerged. They attempted to flee into a secure location, described as a heavily fortified bunker.
"The safe place is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside as our personnel were so fast.
It featured an extremely heavy entryway, a very heavy door," the President told reporters. "He made it the entrance. He could not to close it."
But even if they had managed to get into the bunker, troops could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds".
From Caracas to New York City
Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported some 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.
They were taken by air from the capital via chopper, and taken to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship stationed off the coast. The team was completed in international waters by 04:29.
Aboard the vessel where an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - the president in handcuffs, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses.
After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.
They then traveled via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York state, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.
Facing Justice on US Territory
On Saturday, footage emerged depicting the detainee inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in New York.
The couple are presently being held in a detention centre in the city.
They have been charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning automatic weapons and destructive devices, and plots to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the US.
"They will soon face the full wrath of American justice in the United States in American courts," a senior legal official declared.
Video documents Maduro's arrival into American and transport into custody.
