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American officials assert their military operation to capture the South American nation's president took months of careful preparation, yet when the US President gave the command to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after roughly 150 minutes.

The surprise early-morning attack this past weekend represented an unprecedented incident within contemporary international relations and resulted in the arrest of Venezuela's president along with his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Captured by troops from a top-tier US army unit as they tried to escape into a fortified panic room, the couple are now in custody at a holding facility in New York and are confronting narco-terrorism accusations.

The Early Morning Raid on Fuerte Tiuna

With daybreak that morning, the scale of the military operation in Caracas, Venezuela's primary city, was evident.

Pictures from Fuerte Tiuna, an enormous military complex in which top government officials reside, depict destroyed buildings and charred, smouldering vehicles.

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

Hours Before - The President Gives the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" began with reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

The US cut power to the city, Trump has since said, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The aim was to disable Venezuela's air defences and open up the path for American assault helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.

Our evaluation was that we had maintained completely the element of surprise", the top general remarked.

Strike locations encompassed the base, a port and an airport. Pictures depict Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with huge flames seen for miles.

Venezuelans have described how American choppers flew at low altitude above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

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

There was significant gunfire," the President added.

The Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

Once on the ground, troops from the US Army's Delta Force, moved quickly.

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

However, further information were provided. The Maduros attempted to flee into a secure location, referred to as a military "fortress".

The secure room is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it to the door as our personnel were so fast.

"It was a very thick door, a massive door," the President informed the media. He reached to the door. He was unable to close it."

However, even assuming they had succeeded to enter the bunker, forces could have blown it open in approximately "under a minute."

From the Capital to Manhattan

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported some 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were flown from the capital by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a warship positioned in the Caribbean. The team was completed "over the water" by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel that an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - Maduro shackled, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold that looked like opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.

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

Facing The Legal System in US Territory

That same day, footage emerged depicting the detainee inside the federal drug agency's main office in New York.

He and Cilia Flores are now being held at a federal holding facility within the city.

They have been charged including planning drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and explosives, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices to use against America.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of the US legal system on American soil in American courts," a senior legal official declared.

Video documents Maduro's arrival in US and journey into custody.