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American officials claim their armed forces mission aimed at apprehending Venezuela's leader required months of planning, however when the US President gave the order to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in roughly 150 minutes.

The unexpected early-morning attack this past weekend marked a historic event in contemporary international relations and resulted in the detention of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by soldiers from an elite American military force as they tried to flee into a heavily secured panic room, the couple are currently being held in a detention centre in New York and are confronting narco-terrorism charges.

The Dawn Raid on the Military Complex

At sunrise that morning, the magnitude of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's capital, was evident.

Photographs of the vast military base, a huge army installation in which key officials reside, show blasted buildings and charred, smouldering cars.

The location was this compound that the president and first lady were apprehended, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández indicated.

Hours Before - Trump Issues the Command

"Operation Absolute Resolve" started with reports of blasts at approximately 02:00 in Caracas (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

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

The aim was to neutralize the nation's air defense systems and clear the path for US military helicopters to get to the target.

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

Strike locations encompassed the base, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures depict Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with massive fires seen for miles.

Venezuelans have described the way US military helicopters flew low over Caracas, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters came under fire, however managed to continue flying, officials stated.

There was significant gunfire," Trump added.

A Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, forces from an elite special operations unit, sprang into action.

They gained access to the compound just after 2 AM local time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without resistance, according to reports.

However, further information were provided. The Maduros attempted to flee into a secure location, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to get to the door as our personnel were so fast.

"It was an extremely heavy entryway, 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 safe room, forces could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds".

From Caracas to New York City

Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported approximately 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.

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

It was on the ship where one of the defining pictures of the whole operation emerged - the president shackled, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

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

Confronting The Legal System in US Territory

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

The couple are presently detained 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 explosives, and plots to possess machine guns and destructive devices to use against America.

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

Video documents the leader's entry into American and journey into custody.