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The US assert the military operation to capture the South American nation's leader took many weeks of careful preparation, however when the US President gave the command to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately 150 minutes.

The shocking pre-dawn attack on Saturday signified a never-before-seen incident within contemporary international relations and led directly to the arrest for Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Seized by troops from an elite American military force when they tried to escape into a fortified panic room, the pair are currently being held at a holding facility within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism indictments.

A Early Morning Assault against the Military Complex

At sunrise on Saturday, the scale of the military operation in Caracas, Venezuela's primary city, was clear.

Images from Fuerte Tiuna, a massive military complex in which key officials live, depict blasted structures and burned, smoking vehicles.

It was at this base that Maduro and his wife were apprehended, a senior political figure a party official indicated.

Hours Before - Trump Issues the Order

The mission began with reports of blasts at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT).

American forces disabled electricity to the city, the President has since said, describing it as "dark and deadly".

The goal was to disable the nation's air defences and open up the way for US military helicopters to reach the target.

"We assessed that we successfully kept totally the element of surprise", the top general commented.

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

Residents have described how US military helicopters flew at low altitude above the city, heading for the military base.

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

"It was significant gunfire," the President added.

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, troops from the US Army's Delta Force, moved quickly.

They entered the facility at 02:01 local time, and the Maduros "gave up" without a struggle, according to reports.

But, more details emerged. They tried to escape into a secure location, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside because our guys were so fast.

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

But even if they had managed to get into the bunker, troops could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds".

From Caracas to New York City

Currently under American detention, the couple were transported approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were flown from the capital by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a naval vessel positioned in the Caribbean. The operation was completed in international waters by 04:29.

It was on the ship that an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - the president in handcuffs, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear resembling opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.

They were then flown via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Facing The Legal System on US Territory

That same day, a video emerged depicting the detainee inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in New York.

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

They face charges including conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, possession of machine guns and explosives, and plots to possess machine guns and destructive devices to use against America.

They are set to encounter the complete force of the US legal system in the United States within US courtrooms," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Footage documents Maduro's arrival into American and journey into custody.