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American officials assert their military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's leader took months of careful preparation, however when Donald Trump issued the command to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" only lasted roughly 150 minutes.

The unexpected early-morning attack this past weekend marked a never-before-seen incident in contemporary international relations and resulted in the arrest of Venezuela's president and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Captured by soldiers from a top-tier American military force as they attempted to flee into a heavily secured secure chamber, the couple are currently in custody at a holding facility within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism indictments.

A Early Morning Assault against the Military Complex

As the sun rose that morning, the scale of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's capital, was clear.

Photographs of Fuerte Tiuna, a huge army installation where top government officials live, show blasted buildings as well as charred, smouldering cars.

It was at this compound where Maduro and his wife were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official indicated.

Just Moments Before - The President Issues the Command

The mission commenced amid reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

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

The aim was to neutralize Venezuela's air defense systems and open up the way for US military helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.

"We assessed that we successfully kept completely the advantage of surprise," the top general remarked.

Strike locations included the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Images depict Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with huge flames seen from a great distance.

Residents reported the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude above the city, en route to the military base.

A number of the aircraft were shot at, but were still able to fly, military leaders stated.

"It was a lot of gunfire," Trump noted.

A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed.

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

However, further information were provided. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he failed to make it to the door because our guys were too quick.

It featured an extremely heavy door, a very heavy door," the President told reporters. He reached to the door. He could not to shut it."

But even if they had succeeded to get into the safe room, forces could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds".

From Caracas to Manhattan

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported some 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air from the capital via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel positioned off the coast. The operation was completed "over the water" by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel that one of the defining pictures from the entire mission emerged - the president shackled, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold resembling dark sunglasses.

After leaving the ship, his initial stop was to the US Navy base in Cuba.

They were then flown on a government plane to a military airfield in New York state, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Facing The Legal System on American Soil

That same day, footage was released depicting Maduro at the federal drug agency's main office in New York.

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

They face charges with planning drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, possession of automatic weapons and explosives, and plots to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the US.

"They will soon face the complete force of American justice on American soil in American courts," the Attorney General declared.

Footage shows the leader's entry into American and transport into custody.