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American officials state the military operation aimed at apprehending Venezuela's president took many weeks of planning, but when Donald Trump issued the order to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" only lasted approximately 150 minutes.

The unexpected early-morning attack this past weekend signified a historic incident in contemporary international relations and culminated in the detention of Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Seized by troops belonging to an elite American military force as they tried to escape inside a fortified safe room, the two are now in custody at a holding facility in New York and are confronting narco-terrorism accusations.

The Dawn Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

At sunrise on Saturday, the extent of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's primary city, became apparent.

Images of Fuerte Tiuna, an enormous military complex where key officials live, depict destroyed buildings and charred, smoking vehicles.

The location was this facility that Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official stated.

Just Moments Earlier - Trump Issues the Order

The mission began with reports of blasts at approximately 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT).

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

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

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

Strike locations encompassed the base, a port and an airfield. Pictures depict the complex on fire, with huge flames seen for miles.

Venezuelans reported how American choppers flew low above the city, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, but managed to continue flying, officials said.

There was significant weapons fire," the President noted.

The Lightning-Fast Ground Assault

After landing, troops from the US Army's Delta Force, sprang into action.

They gained access the facility just after 2 AM local time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without resistance, as per reports.

However, more details were provided. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.

The secure room is all steel, and he wasn't able to get to the door as our personnel were too quick.

It featured an extremely heavy entryway, a massive door," the President informed the media. "He made it to the door. He was unable to close it."

However, even assuming they had managed to get into the bunker, forces could have blown it open in about "under a minute."

From the Capital to New York City

Now in US custody, the couple were moved approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air from the capital by helicopter, and taken to a US warship, a naval vessel positioned off the coast. The team was completed "over the water" before 4:30 AM.

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

After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.

They then traveled via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Facing The Legal System on American Soil

That same day, footage emerged depicting 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 including planning narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and plots to possess machine guns and bombs to use against America.

They are set to encounter the complete force of the US legal system in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General proclaimed.

Footage shows the leader's entry in US and transport to detention.