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American officials claim their armed forces mission aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president involved months of careful preparation, yet the moment Donald Trump issued the order to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately two and a half hours.

The shocking early-morning strike this past weekend marked a never-before-seen event in modern politics and led directly to the detention for Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Seized by troops belonging to an elite US army unit when they tried to flee inside a fortified panic room, the pair are currently detained in a detention centre within New York City and face narco-terrorism accusations.

The Early Morning Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

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

Photographs of Fuerte Tiuna, an enormous army installation in which top government officials reside, depict bombed out structures and burned, smouldering vehicles.

It was at this facility that Maduro and his wife were apprehended, a senior political figure a party official indicated.

Just Moments Before - The President Issues the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" started amid reports of blasts at about 02:00 local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

American forces disabled electricity across the capital, Trump has since said, calling it "dark and deadly".

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

"We assessed that we had maintained completely the advantage of surprise," the top general stated.

Targeted sites included the base, a maritime facility and an airport. Images depict Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with huge flames visible for miles.

Residents have described how American choppers flew at low altitude over Caracas, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

A number of the aircraft were shot at, however were still able to fly, military leaders said.

"It was significant weapons fire," Trump noted.

A Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

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

They gained access to the compound at 02:01 local time, and the Maduros surrendered without resistance, as per accounts.

However, more details were provided. They tried to escape into a secure location, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he failed to get to the door because our guys were so fast.

It featured a very thick door, a very heavy door," the President told reporters. "He made it to the door. He was unable to shut it."

But even if they had managed to enter the bunker, troops could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds".

From Caracas to New York City

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported approximately 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air out of Caracas via chopper, and taken to a US warship, a naval vessel positioned off the coast. The team was back "over the water" by 04:29.

It was on the ship that one of the defining pictures of the whole operation was captured - the president shackled, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear resembling dark sunglasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown 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 state, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Confronting The Legal System in US Territory

On Saturday, a video emerged depicting Maduro at the federal drug agency's headquarters in New York.

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

They have been charged with planning narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to acquire machine guns and bombs to use against America.

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

Footage shows Maduro's arrival in US and journey into custody.