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The US assert the military operation to capture the South American nation's leader required many weeks of careful preparation, but the moment the US President gave the command to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" concluded after roughly 150 minutes.

The unexpected early-morning strike on Saturday signified an unprecedented event in modern politics and resulted in the arrest for Venezuela's president along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Captured by troops belonging to a top-tier US army unit as they tried to flee into a heavily secured secure chamber, the two are currently detained in a detention centre within New York City and face narco-terrorism charges.

A Early Morning Assault on the Military Complex

At sunrise on Saturday, the magnitude of the armed intervention in the capital, the nation's capital, was clear.

Images from Fuerte Tiuna, a massive army installation where senior leadership reside, depict destroyed structures as well as charred, smoking vehicles.

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

Just Moments Earlier - The President Issues the Order

The mission commenced with reports of blasts at approximately 02:00 in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

American forces cut power to the city, the President later described, calling it "dark and deadly".

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

Our evaluation was that we had maintained completely the advantage of surprise," a senior military officer stated.

Targeted sites included the base, a port and an airport. Pictures depict the complex on fire, with huge flames seen from a great distance.

Venezuelans reported the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude above the city, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

A number of the aircraft came under fire, however were still able to fly, military leaders said.

"It was significant gunfire," the President noted.

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

Once on the ground, troops from an elite special operations unit, moved quickly.

They entered to the compound at 02:01 local time, and the Maduros surrendered without resistance, as per reports.

But, further information emerged. They attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to get to the door because our guys were too quick.

"It was a very thick door, a massive door," Trump informed the media. "He made it the entrance. He could not to shut it."

But even if they had succeeded to enter the bunker, troops could have blown it open in approximately "under a minute."

From the Capital to New York City

Now in US custody, the couple were moved approximately 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.

They were taken by air from the capital by helicopter, and taken to a US warship, a warship stationed off the coast. The operation was back "over the water" by 04:29.

It was on the ship where an iconic image from the entire mission was captured - the president shackled, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear resembling dark sunglasses.

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

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

Facing Justice in US Territory

On Saturday, a video emerged depicting Maduro inside the federal drug agency's headquarters in New York.

He and Cilia Flores are presently detained in a detention centre within the city.

They have been charged including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and plots to possess such weapons and destructive devices against the US.

"They will soon face the complete force of the US legal system on American soil within US courtrooms," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Footage shows the leader's entry into American and journey to detention.