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American officials claim their armed forces mission aimed at apprehending Venezuela's president took many weeks of careful preparation, yet the moment Donald Trump issued the command to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" concluded after roughly two and a half hours.

The surprise pre-dawn strike this past weekend represented an unprecedented event in modern politics and resulted in the detention of Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Captured by soldiers from a top-tier American military force when they tried to flee into a fortified safe room, the couple are now in custody at a holding facility within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

A Early Morning Raid on the Military Complex

At sunrise on Saturday, the scale of the armed intervention in the capital, Venezuela's capital, was clear.

Pictures of the vast military base, an enormous military complex in which top government officials live, depict bombed out buildings and charred, smoking vehicles.

It was at this facility where the president and first lady were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández stated.

Just Moments Earlier - Trump Gives the Command

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

The US disabled electricity across the capital, the President later described, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The goal was to disable the nation's air defences and clear the way for US military helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna.

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

Strike locations encompassed the base, a port and an airfield. Pictures show the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen from a great distance.

Venezuelans reported the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude over Caracas, heading for the military base.

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

There was significant weapons fire," the President added.

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

Once on the ground, troops from the US Army's Delta Force, sprang into action.

They gained access to the compound just after 2 AM Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, according to accounts.

However, more details emerged. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he failed to make it inside because our guys were so fast.

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

But even if they had succeeded to enter the safe room, troops could have blown it open in about "under a minute."

From Caracas to Manhattan

Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were flown out of Caracas by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a naval vessel positioned in the Caribbean. The operation was completed "over the water" before 4:30 AM.

Aboard the vessel where an iconic image from the entire mission emerged - Maduro shackled, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear that looked like opaque glasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown to the US Navy base in Cuba.

They were then flown via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York state, before a final helicopter transfer into New York City.

Confronting Justice in US Territory

That same day, footage was released depicting Maduro inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in the city.

The couple are presently being held at a federal holding facility within the city.

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

"They will soon face the complete force of American justice on American soil in American courts," a senior legal official declared.

Video documents the leader's entry in US and transport to detention.