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American officials claim the military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's leader required months of careful preparation, but the moment the US President gave the command to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in roughly two and a half hours.

The shocking early-morning assault this past weekend represented an unprecedented event in modern politics and culminated in the arrest of Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by soldiers belonging to a top-tier American military force as they attempted to escape into a fortified panic room, the two are currently being held at a holding facility in New York and face drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.

A Dawn Assault against the Military Complex

With daybreak on Saturday, the scale of the military operation in the capital, Venezuela's primary city, was clear.

Images from Fuerte Tiuna, a massive military complex where key officials reside, depict bombed out structures and burned, smoking cars.

It was at this facility where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official stated.

Hours Earlier - Trump Issues the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" started with reports of blasts around 2 AM local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

American forces disabled electricity across the capital, Trump later described, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The aim was to disable the nation's air defences and open up the path for US military helicopters to reach the target.

Our evaluation was that we had maintained completely the element of surprise", the top general remarked.

Strike locations included the compound, a maritime facility and an airport. Images show Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with huge flames visible from a great distance.

Residents have described the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude over Caracas, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, however managed to continue flying, military leaders stated.

"It was significant weapons fire," Trump noted.

A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

Once on the ground, forces from an elite special operations unit, sprang into action.

They gained access to the compound at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, according to reports.

However, more details were provided. They tried to escape into a secure location, described as a military "fortress".

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to make it inside because our guys were so fast.

"It was an extremely heavy door, a massive door," the President told reporters. He reached the entrance. He was unable to close it."

However, even assuming they had succeeded to get into the bunker, forces could have breached it in approximately "under a minute."

From the Capital to New York City

Currently under American detention, the couple were moved some 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.

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

Aboard the vessel that an iconic image of the whole operation emerged - the president shackled, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold that looked like dark sunglasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.

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

Facing The Legal System on US Territory

That same day, a video was released showing the detainee at the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in the city.

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

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

"They will soon face the full wrath of the US legal system in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General declared.

Video shows Maduro's arrival into American and journey into custody.