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American officials assert the military operation to capture Venezuela's president involved many weeks of planning, yet the moment Donald Trump gave the order to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" only lasted approximately 150 minutes.

The surprise pre-dawn attack on Saturday signified a never-before-seen incident in modern politics and led directly to the arrest for Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Captured by troops from an elite American military force as they tried to flee into a fortified panic room, the pair are currently detained at a holding facility within New York City and face narco-terrorism indictments.

The Dawn Assault on Fuerte Tiuna

As the sun rose that morning, the extent of the armed intervention in the capital, the nation's primary city, was evident.

Images from Fuerte Tiuna, a huge military complex in which key officials reside, show destroyed buildings and charred, smoking vehicles.

It was at this facility that the president and first lady were captured, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández indicated.

Just Moments Earlier - The President Issues the Order

The mission commenced amid reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

American forces cut power across the capital, the President has since said, calling it "dark and deadly".

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

"We assessed that we successfully kept totally the advantage of surprise," a senior military officer remarked.

Targeted sites included the base, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures depict Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with huge flames seen for miles.

Residents reported how US military helicopters flew low over Caracas, en route to the military base.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, but managed to continue flying, military leaders stated.

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

The Lightning-Fast Ground Assault

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

They gained access to the compound just after 2 AM Caracas time, and the Maduros "gave up" without a struggle, according to accounts.

However, further information emerged. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to get to the door as our personnel were too quick.

"It was a very thick door, a massive door," Trump informed the media. "He made it to the door. He was unable to shut it."

But even if they had succeeded to enter the safe room, troops could have breached it in approximately "under a minute."

From Caracas to Manhattan

Currently under American detention, the couple were moved approximately 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.

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

It was on the ship that an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - the president in handcuffs, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold resembling dark sunglasses.

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

The Maduros then traveled on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Facing The Legal System in US Territory

That same day, footage emerged depicting Maduro inside the federal drug agency's main office in New York.

He and Cilia Flores are now being held in a detention centre within the city.

They face charges with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning automatic weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and bombs against the US.

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

Video shows Maduro's arrival into American and transport into custody.