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American officials assert the military operation aimed at apprehending Venezuela's president involved many weeks of planning, yet when the US President gave the command to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" only lasted roughly 150 minutes.

The unexpected early-morning strike on Saturday represented a never-before-seen incident in contemporary international relations and culminated in the detention for Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Seized by soldiers from a top-tier US army unit as they attempted to flee inside a heavily secured secure chamber, the couple are now being held in a detention centre within New York City and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism indictments.

The Early Morning Raid against the Military Complex

As the sun rose that morning, the extent of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's capital, became apparent.

Pictures of the vast military base, a huge army installation in which key officials reside, reveal destroyed structures as well as charred, smouldering cars.

It was at this base where Maduro and his wife were captured, a senior political figure a party official reported.

Hours Earlier - Trump Issues the Command

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

American forces cut power across the capital, Trump later described, calling it "dark and deadly".

The goal was to neutralize Venezuela's air defense systems and clear the path for US military helicopters to get to the target.

Our evaluation was that we successfully kept completely the advantage of surprise," the top general remarked.

Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a port and an airfield. Images show Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with huge flames seen for miles.

Residents have described the way US military helicopters flew low over Caracas, en route to the military base.

A number of the aircraft were shot at, but were still able to fly, officials stated.

"It was a lot of weapons fire," Trump added.

The Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, troops from an elite special operations unit, acted with speed.

They gained access to the compound just after 2 AM local time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, according to reports.

However, further information were provided. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, referred to as a military "fortress".

The secure room is all steel, and he wasn't able to get inside because our guys were so fast.

"It was a very thick door, a very heavy door," Trump informed the media. "He made it the entrance. He could not to close it."

But even if they had managed to get into the safe room, troops could have blown it open in about "47 seconds".

From the Capital to New York City

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved approximately 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan.

They were flown from the capital via chopper, and taken to a US warship, a naval vessel positioned in the Caribbean. The operation was back in international waters by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel where an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - the president shackled, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear that looked like dark sunglasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

The Maduros were then flown on a government plane to a military airfield in New York state, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Facing Justice on American Soil

That same day, a video was released showing Maduro inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in New York.

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

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning automatic weapons and destructive devices, 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 within US courtrooms," the Attorney General declared.

Footage shows Maduro's arrival in US and journey into custody.