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The US assert their military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's leader involved many weeks of planning, yet the moment the US President gave the command to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately two and a half hours.

The shocking pre-dawn strike this past weekend represented a never-before-seen incident within modern politics and resulted in the arrest of Venezuela's president and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Apprehended by soldiers from a top-tier American military force while they attempted to escape inside a fortified secure chamber, the two are currently in custody at a holding facility in New York and face narco-terrorism accusations.

A Dawn Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

At sunrise on Saturday, the magnitude of the military operation in Caracas, Venezuela's primary city, became apparent.

Images from Fuerte Tiuna, an enormous army installation in which key officials reside, depict destroyed buildings as well as burned, smoking vehicles.

The location was this facility that the president and first lady were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official stated.

Hours Earlier - The President Issues the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" started amid reports of blasts at approximately 2 AM in Caracas (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 defense systems and open up the path for American assault helicopters to reach the target.

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

Targeted sites included the base, a port and an airfield. Images depict the complex on fire, with huge flames seen from a great distance.

Venezuelans have described the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude over Caracas, en route to the military base.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, but were still able to fly, military leaders said.

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

A Rapid Ground Assault

Once on the ground, troops from an elite special operations unit, acted with speed.

They gained access to the compound just after 2 AM Caracas time, and the Maduros surrendered without a struggle, according to reports.

But, more details emerged. They attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

The secure room is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside because our guys were too quick.

"It was an extremely heavy entryway, a very heavy door," the President informed the media. "He made it the entrance. He was unable to close it."

But even if they had succeeded to enter the safe room, forces could have breached it in about "47 seconds".

From Caracas to New York City

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

They were taken by air from the capital by helicopter, and taken to a US warship, a warship stationed off the coast. The operation was back in international waters before 4:30 AM.

Aboard the vessel that an iconic image from the entire mission was captured - the president shackled, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear resembling opaque glasses.

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 state, before a final helicopter transfer into New York City.

Confronting The Legal System on US Territory

That same day, footage emerged showing the detainee inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in New York.

He and Cilia Flores are now being held at a federal holding facility in the city.

They have been charged with planning drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to acquire machine guns and destructive devices against the US.

They are set to encounter the complete force of the US legal system on American soil within US courtrooms," a senior legal official declared.

Video shows Maduro's arrival in US and transport into custody.