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The US state the armed forces mission aimed at apprehending Venezuela's leader took months of planning, but when the US President issued the order to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" only lasted roughly 150 minutes.

The shocking early-morning strike on Saturday represented a never-before-seen event within contemporary international relations and resulted in the arrest for Venezuela's president and his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Seized by troops belonging to an elite American military force while they attempted to flee inside a heavily secured secure chamber, the couple are currently in custody at a holding facility within New York City and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

A Dawn Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

At sunrise on Saturday, the extent of the armed intervention in the capital, the nation's capital, was evident.

Images from the vast military base, a huge army installation where top government officials live, reveal destroyed buildings as well as charred, smouldering vehicles.

The location was this facility where Maduro and his wife were captured, a senior political figure a party official reported.

Hours Earlier - The President Issues the Order

The mission started amid reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM local time (06:00 GMT).

American forces cut power across the capital, Trump has since said, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The objective was to neutralize Venezuela's air defences and open up the path for American assault helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.

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

Strike locations encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airport. Images depict Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with massive fires visible for miles.

Venezuelans reported how US military helicopters flew low above the city, heading for the military base.

Some of the helicopters came under fire, however managed to continue flying, officials stated.

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

A Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

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

They entered the facility at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without resistance, according to accounts.

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

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to get to the door as our personnel were too quick.

It featured an extremely heavy entryway, a massive door," the President informed the media. "He made it the entrance. He could not to close it."

But even if they had managed to get into the safe room, forces could have breached it in approximately "under a minute."

From Caracas to Manhattan

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air from the capital via chopper, and taken to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship positioned off the coast. The operation was back "over the water" before 4:30 AM.

Aboard the vessel where an iconic image from the entire mission was captured - Maduro shackled, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear resembling dark sunglasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.

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

Confronting Justice on US Territory

On Saturday, a video was released depicting the detainee inside the federal drug agency's headquarters in New York.

He and Cilia Flores are now detained in a detention centre in the city.

They have been charged including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and explosives, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and bombs against the US.

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

Footage documents Maduro's arrival in US and transport into custody.