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The US assert their military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president took months of careful preparation, but the moment the US President gave the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" only lasted roughly 150 minutes.

The shocking early-morning attack this past weekend marked a historic event in modern politics and culminated in the detention of Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Apprehended by soldiers belonging to a top-tier US army unit when they attempted to flee inside a heavily secured secure chamber, the pair are currently detained in a detention centre within New York City and are confronting narco-terrorism charges.

A Dawn Assault against Fuerte Tiuna

As the sun rose that morning, the extent of the military operation in Caracas, the nation's primary city, was evident.

Photographs from the vast military base, an enormous army installation where top government officials reside, show blasted buildings as well as charred, smoking vehicles.

It was at this compound where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández indicated.

Just Moments Before - The President Gives the Command

The mission started with reports of blasts at about 02:00 in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

American forces cut power across the capital, the President later described, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The aim was to disable Venezuela's air defences and open up the path for US military helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna.

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

Targeted sites encompassed the base, a maritime facility and an airport. Pictures depict the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen for miles.

Residents have described how American choppers flew low above the city, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters came under fire, but managed to continue flying, officials said.

"It was a lot of weapons fire," Trump noted.

A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

Once on the ground, troops from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed.

They entered the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the Maduros "gave up" without a struggle, according to accounts.

However, further information were provided. The Maduros attempted to flee into a secure location, described as a military "fortress".

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

"It was a very thick door, a very heavy door," Trump informed the media. "He made it the entrance. He could not to close it."

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

From the Capital to Manhattan

Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported some 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan.

They were flown from the capital via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was back "over the water" before 4:30 AM.

It was on the ship that an iconic image from the entire mission emerged - the president in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear resembling opaque glasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.

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

Facing Justice in American Soil

On Saturday, a video was released depicting Maduro inside the federal drug agency's headquarters in the city.

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

They face charges including conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and explosives, and plots to acquire machine guns and bombs to use against America.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of the US legal system on American soil within US courtrooms," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Footage documents the leader's entry in US and journey to detention.