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The US assert their armed forces mission to capture the South American nation's leader required many weeks of planning, but when Donald Trump issued the command to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" only lasted approximately two and a half hours.

The surprise pre-dawn attack this past weekend signified a never-before-seen event within modern politics and led directly to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by soldiers belonging to an elite American military force when they attempted to flee into a fortified safe room, the couple are now detained in a detention centre in New York and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

A Dawn Raid on the Military Complex

With daybreak on Saturday, the extent of the military operation in Caracas, the nation's primary city, was clear.

Images of Fuerte Tiuna, a massive military complex in which key officials live, reveal destroyed buildings and charred, smouldering cars.

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

Hours Earlier - The President Gives the Command

"Operation Absolute Resolve" began with reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

The US disabled electricity to the city, the President has since said, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The goal was to neutralize the nation's air defences and open up the way for American assault helicopters to get to the target.

"We assessed that we successfully kept completely the element of surprise", a senior military officer stated.

Targeted sites encompassed the base, a port and an airport. Images depict the complex engulfed in flames, with huge flames visible for miles.

Residents have described how US military helicopters flew at low altitude over Caracas, en route to the military base.

Some of the helicopters came under fire, however managed to continue flying, military leaders said.

There was significant weapons fire," Trump added.

A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

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

They gained access to the compound at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without resistance, as per reports.

However, further information emerged. They tried to escape into a safe place, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place is all steel, and he wasn't able to get to the door as our personnel were so fast.

It featured an extremely heavy door, a very heavy door," Trump informed the media. He reached to the door. He could not to close it."

However, even assuming they had succeeded to get into the safe room, forces could have breached it in approximately "under a minute."

From the Capital to New York City

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported approximately 2,100 miles, to New York City.

They were flown out of Caracas by helicopter, and taken to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel positioned in the Caribbean. The team was back in international waters by 04:29.

It was on the ship where one of the defining pictures from the entire mission emerged - Maduro in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

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

Facing The Legal System in American Soil

That same day, a video was released showing the detainee inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in the city.

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

They have been charged including conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and explosives, and conspiracy to possess such weapons and bombs against the US.

"They will soon face the full wrath of American justice in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General declared.

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