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The US claim their military operation to capture Venezuela's president took many weeks of careful preparation, but when Donald Trump issued the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately two and a half hours.

The unexpected pre-dawn attack this past weekend represented an unprecedented event in modern politics and culminated in the detention of Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Seized by troops from an elite American military force as they tried to escape inside a fortified safe room, the pair are currently being held in a detention centre within New York City and are confronting narco-terrorism accusations.

The Dawn Raid against the Military Complex

At sunrise that morning, the extent of the military operation in Caracas, the nation's primary city, was evident.

Images of the vast military base, a huge army installation where top government officials live, reveal blasted structures as well as burned, smouldering cars.

The location was this base where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official reported.

Hours Earlier - The President Issues the Command

"Operation Absolute Resolve" began with reports of explosions at about 02:00 local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

American forces disabled electricity across the capital, the President later described, calling it "dark and deadly".

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

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

Strike locations encompassed the compound, a port and an airfield. Pictures show the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen from a great distance.

Venezuelans have described the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude above the city, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

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

"It was significant gunfire," Trump added.

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 presidential couple "gave up" without resistance, according to reports.

But, further information emerged. They attempted to flee into a safe place, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to get to the door because our guys were too quick.

"It was a very thick door, a massive door," Trump informed the media. He reached the entrance. He was unable to shut it."

However, even assuming they had managed to enter the safe room, forces could have blown it open in approximately "under a minute."

From Caracas to New York City

Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported approximately 2,100 miles, to New York City.

They were taken by air out of Caracas by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was completed in international waters before 4:30 AM.

Aboard the vessel that one of the defining pictures from the entire mission was captured - the president shackled, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear resembling opaque glasses.

After leaving the ship, his initial stop was at the American naval installation in Cuba.

They were then flown via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York state, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Confronting The Legal System on US Territory

That same day, a video was released showing the detainee inside the federal drug agency's main office in the city.

The couple are presently being held at a federal holding facility within the city.

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and explosives, and conspiracy to acquire machine guns and bombs against the US.

"They will soon face the full wrath of the US legal system on American soil within US courtrooms," a senior legal official declared.

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