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American officials claim their military operation to capture the South American nation's president involved months of planning, but the moment the US President issued the order to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately two and a half hours.

The surprise early-morning strike this past weekend represented a historic incident in modern politics and resulted in the arrest for Venezuela's president and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by soldiers from a top-tier US army unit as they attempted to flee into a fortified panic room, the pair are currently in custody at a holding facility in New York and face drug trafficking and terrorism indictments.

The Early Morning Raid on the Military Complex

As the sun rose that morning, the extent of the military operation in the capital, the nation's capital, was clear.

Images of the vast military base, a massive military complex in which senior leadership live, depict destroyed structures and charred, smoking vehicles.

The location was this compound where the president and first lady were captured, a senior political figure a party official reported.

Just Moments Earlier - The President Gives the Order

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

American forces disabled electricity to the city, Trump has since said, describing it as pitch black and dangerous.

The aim was to neutralize the nation's air defences and open up the path for US military helicopters to reach the target.

"We assessed that we successfully kept totally the advantage of surprise," the top general stated.

Targeted sites included the base, a port and an airport. Images show the complex on fire, with massive fires seen for miles.

Residents have described the way American choppers flew at low altitude over Caracas, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

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

There was a lot of gunfire," the President added.

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

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

They gained access the facility just after 2 AM Caracas time, and the Maduros surrendered without resistance, according to accounts.

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

The secure room is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside as our personnel were so fast.

It featured a very thick door, a massive door," the President told reporters. He reached to the door. He could not to close it."

However, even assuming they had managed to get into the bunker, troops could have blown it open in about "under a minute."

From Caracas to New York City

Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife 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 off the coast. The team was back "over the water" before 4:30 AM.

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

From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was to the US Navy base in Cuba.

The Maduros were then flown on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, before a final helicopter transfer into New York City.

Facing Justice in American Soil

That same day, a video emerged depicting Maduro at the federal drug agency's headquarters in the city.

The couple are now being held at a federal holding facility in the city.

They have been charged including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and destructive devices, and plots to possess such weapons and destructive devices against the US.

They are set to encounter the complete force of the US legal system on American soil within US courtrooms," the Attorney General proclaimed.

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