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American officials claim their military operation to capture Venezuela's leader took months of careful preparation, but when Donald Trump gave the command to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after roughly 150 minutes.

The shocking pre-dawn strike this past weekend marked an unprecedented event in contemporary international relations and led directly to the detention of Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by troops from an elite US army unit as they tried to escape inside a heavily secured panic room, the two are currently being held at a holding facility in New York and face narco-terrorism charges.

The Early Morning Assault against the Military Complex

As the sun rose that morning, the scale of the military operation in Caracas, the nation's capital, became apparent.

Images from Fuerte Tiuna, a massive military complex where key officials live, depict bombed out buildings and burned, smoking cars.

It was at this facility that Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández reported.

Hours Earlier - Trump Issues the Command

The mission commenced with reports of explosions at about 2 AM local time (06:00 GMT).

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

The goal was to neutralize Venezuela's air defense systems and open up the path for US military helicopters to get to the target.

"We assessed that we had maintained completely the element of surprise", the top general commented.

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

Venezuelans have described the way US military helicopters flew low above the city, heading for the military base.

A number of the aircraft came under fire, but managed to continue flying, officials said.

There was significant weapons fire," the President noted.

A Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

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

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

However, more details emerged. They tried to escape into a secure location, referred to as a military "fortress".

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to get inside because our guys were so fast.

"It was an extremely heavy entryway, a massive door," the President informed the media. "He made it to the door. He could not to close it."

But even if they had managed to get into the safe room, forces could have blown it open in approximately "under a minute."

From Caracas to Manhattan

Currently under American detention, the couple were moved some 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were flown out of Caracas via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was completed in international waters before 4:30 AM.

It was on the ship where an iconic image of the whole operation emerged - Maduro shackled, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold resembling dark sunglasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.

They then traveled on a government plane to a military airfield in New York state, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Facing The Legal System on US Territory

On Saturday, footage was released depicting the detainee at the federal drug agency's headquarters in the city.

The couple are presently detained in a detention centre in the city.

They have been charged including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and explosives, and conspiracy to acquire such weapons and bombs to use against America.

"They will soon face the complete force of American justice in the United States in American courts," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Video shows the leader's entry into American and transport to detention.