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American officials assert the military operation to capture the South American nation's leader involved many weeks of careful preparation, however the moment Donald Trump gave the order to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" only lasted roughly two and a half hours.

The unexpected early-morning assault this past weekend signified an unprecedented event in modern politics and culminated in the detention of Venezuela's president along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Seized by troops from a top-tier American military force when they attempted to escape into a heavily secured safe room, the couple are currently detained at a holding facility in New York and face narco-terrorism charges.

The Dawn Raid against the Military Complex

As the sun rose that morning, the magnitude of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's primary city, was evident.

Photographs of the vast military base, a massive military complex in which senior leadership reside, show blasted buildings and burned, smouldering cars.

It was at this compound that the president and first lady were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández reported.

Hours Before - The President Gives the Command

"Operation Absolute Resolve" commenced with reports of blasts at approximately 2 AM in Caracas (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

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

The objective was to disable Venezuela's air defense systems and clear the way for American assault helicopters to get to the target.

Our evaluation was that we successfully kept completely the advantage of surprise," the top general remarked.

Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Images depict the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires visible for miles.

Residents have described the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, however were still able to fly, officials said.

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

A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

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

They gained access the facility just after 2 AM local time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without a struggle, according to reports.

However, further information were provided. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he failed to get inside because our guys were so fast.

It featured a very thick entryway, a very heavy door," the President informed the media. He reached the entrance. He was unable to close it."

But even if they had managed to get into the safe room, forces could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds".

From Caracas to New York City

Now in US custody, the couple were transported some 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air out of Caracas by helicopter, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The team was back in international waters before 4:30 AM.

It was on the ship that one of the defining pictures from the entire mission was captured - the president in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear resembling opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

They then traveled on a government plane to a military airfield in New York state, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Confronting Justice on American Soil

On Saturday, footage was released depicting Maduro at the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in New York.

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

They face charges with planning narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning automatic weapons and explosives, and conspiracy to acquire such weapons and destructive devices against the US.

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

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