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The US assert their military operation to capture the South American nation's leader required months of planning, yet the moment Donald Trump issued the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" only lasted approximately 150 minutes.

The shocking early-morning attack this past weekend marked a never-before-seen event in contemporary international relations and resulted in the arrest for Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Seized by soldiers belonging to a top-tier American military force as they attempted to escape into a fortified safe room, the couple are currently being held at a holding facility in New York and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

A Dawn Raid on the Military Complex

With daybreak on Saturday, the extent of the armed intervention in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, became apparent.

Photographs of Fuerte Tiuna, an enormous 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, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández stated.

Hours Earlier - The President Gives the Order

The mission started amid reports of blasts at about 2 AM local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

The US cut power to the city, the President has since said, calling it "dark and deadly".

The aim was to disable the nation's air defences and clear the path for US military helicopters to get to the target.

Our evaluation was that we successfully kept completely the element of surprise", a senior military officer stated.

Targeted sites included the base, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures show the complex engulfed in flames, with huge flames seen for miles.

Residents reported how American choppers flew at low altitude above the city, en route to the military base.

Some of the helicopters came under fire, but were still able to fly, military leaders said.

There was a lot of weapons fire," Trump noted.

A Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

Once on the ground, troops from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed.

They entered the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the Maduros surrendered without a struggle, according to accounts.

But, more details emerged. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he failed to make it inside because our guys were too quick.

It featured an extremely heavy door, a massive door," Trump informed the media. He reached the entrance. He could not to shut it."

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

From Caracas to Manhattan

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved some 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.

They were flown out of Caracas by helicopter, and taken to a US warship, a naval vessel positioned off the coast. The operation was back in international waters before 4:30 AM.

Aboard the vessel that an iconic image of the whole operation emerged - the president in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold resembling dark sunglasses.

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

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

Confronting The Legal System on US Territory

That same day, a video was released 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 conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning automatic weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices 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 shows the leader's entry into American and journey into custody.