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The US claim the armed forces mission aimed at apprehending the South American nation's leader took many weeks of planning, however the moment Donald Trump issued the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" only lasted approximately 150 minutes.

The unexpected pre-dawn attack this past weekend marked an unprecedented incident within contemporary international relations and led directly to the detention for Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by troops from an elite US army unit as they tried to escape inside a fortified panic room, the couple are currently in custody at a holding facility in New York and face drug trafficking and terrorism indictments.

The Dawn Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

As the sun rose that morning, the magnitude of the military operation in the capital, the nation's primary city, became apparent.

Pictures of the vast military base, an enormous army installation in which top government officials reside, reveal destroyed structures as well as burned, smoking cars.

It was at this facility where the president and first lady were apprehended, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández indicated.

Just Moments Before - Trump Gives the Command

"Operation Absolute Resolve" commenced with reports of blasts at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT).

The US disabled electricity across the capital, Trump later described, calling it "dark and deadly".

The objective was to disable Venezuela's air defences and clear the path for American assault helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna.

Our evaluation was that we successfully kept totally the advantage of surprise," a senior military officer stated.

Targeted sites included the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Images depict the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen for miles.

Venezuelans have described the way American choppers flew low above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

A number of the aircraft came under fire, but were still able to fly, officials stated.

"It was a lot of weapons fire," the President added.

The Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

Once on the ground, forces from an elite special operations unit, moved quickly.

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

But, more details were provided. They tried to escape into a safe place, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to make it inside as our personnel were so fast.

"It was a very thick entryway, a very heavy door," Trump informed the media. "He made it the entrance. He was unable to shut it."

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

From Caracas to New York City

Now in US custody, the couple were transported approximately 2,100 miles, to New York City.

They were taken by air out of Caracas via chopper, and transferred to a US warship, a naval vessel positioned off the coast. The operation was completed in international waters by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel where one of the defining pictures from the entire mission emerged - Maduro in handcuffs, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold that looked like dark sunglasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.

They then traveled on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Facing The Legal System in US Territory

On Saturday, a video was released depicting the detainee inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in the city.

The couple are now being held in a detention centre in the city.

They have been charged with planning drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning automatic weapons and explosives, and conspiracy to acquire such weapons and bombs against the US.

"They will soon face the complete force of the US legal system in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General proclaimed.

Video shows Maduro's arrival in US and transport to detention.