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American officials assert their military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president involved months of careful preparation, however when the US President gave the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately 150 minutes.

The surprise early-morning attack this past weekend represented an unprecedented incident in contemporary international relations and resulted in the arrest for Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Captured by soldiers belonging to a top-tier American military force as they tried to flee inside a heavily secured panic room, the two are now detained at a holding facility within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.

A Dawn Assault on Fuerte Tiuna

With daybreak that morning, the magnitude of the military operation in the capital, the nation's capital, was clear.

Images from the vast military base, a huge military complex where senior leadership live, depict bombed out buildings and burned, smouldering vehicles.

It was at this compound where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández reported.

Just Moments Earlier - Trump Issues the Order

The mission commenced amid reports of explosions at about 2 AM local time (06:00 GMT).

American forces disabled electricity to the city, Trump has since said, describing it as pitch black and dangerous.

The objective was to disable the nation's air defences and clear the path for US military helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.

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

Targeted sites encompassed the base, a port and an airfield. Pictures depict Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with huge flames visible for miles.

Venezuelans reported how US military helicopters flew at low altitude over Caracas, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, however managed to continue flying, military leaders said.

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

A Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

Once on the ground, troops from the US Army's Delta Force, sprang into action.

They entered the facility just after 2 AM Caracas time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without a struggle, according to reports.

But, further information emerged. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to get to the door because our guys were too quick.

"It was a very thick door, a massive door," the President informed the media. He reached to the door. He could not to close it."

However, even assuming they had managed to enter the bunker, forces could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds".

From Caracas to Manhattan

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

They were flown from the capital via chopper, and taken to a US warship, a naval vessel stationed in the Caribbean. The team was completed in international waters before 4:30 AM.

Aboard the vessel where one of the defining pictures from the entire mission emerged - Maduro in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.

They were then flown via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York, before a final helicopter transfer to Manhattan.

Facing The Legal System on American Soil

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

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

They have been charged including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and plots to acquire machine guns and bombs against the US.

"They will soon face the complete force of American justice on American soil within US courtrooms," the Attorney General declared.

Footage documents Maduro's arrival in US and transport into custody.