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American officials state the military operation to capture the South American nation's president required months of planning, however when the US President gave the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately two and a half hours.

The surprise early-morning strike this past weekend signified a never-before-seen event within contemporary international relations and resulted in the arrest of Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Captured by troops belonging to an elite US army unit when they tried to escape inside a fortified panic room, the pair are now in custody at a holding facility in New York and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

The Early Morning Raid on the Military Complex

With daybreak on Saturday, the magnitude of the military operation in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, was clear.

Pictures of the vast military base, a huge army installation where top government officials reside, depict blasted structures and charred, smoking cars.

It was at this facility where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, a senior political figure a party official indicated.

Just Moments Before - The President Issues the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" began with reports of blasts at about 02:00 local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

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

The objective was to disable the nation's air defense systems and open up the way for US military helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna.

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

Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Images show the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen for miles.

Venezuelans have described how American choppers flew at low altitude over Caracas, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

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

"It was significant gunfire," Trump noted.

A Rapid Ground Assault

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

They entered the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without a struggle, as per accounts.

But, more details emerged. The Maduros attempted to flee into a secure location, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he failed to get to the door as our personnel were so fast.

"It was a very thick door, a massive door," the President told reporters. He reached the entrance. He was unable to shut it."

But even if they had managed to get into the bunker, forces could have breached it in about "47 seconds".

From the Capital to New York City

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

They were flown from the capital via chopper, and taken to a US warship, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was completed "over the water" before 4:30 AM.

It was on the ship that one of the defining pictures from the entire mission was captured - Maduro in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear resembling dark sunglasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown to the US Navy base in Cuba.

They were then flown via official aircraft to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Confronting Justice on US Territory

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

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

They face charges with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and explosives, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and bombs against the US.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of American justice in the United States within US courtrooms," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Footage documents Maduro's arrival into American and journey to detention.