The US assert the military operation to capture the South American nation's leader required many weeks of careful preparation, yet the moment the US President gave the order to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in about 150 minutes.
The surprise pre-dawn strike this past weekend represented a never-before-seen incident in modern politics and culminated in the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores.
Apprehended by soldiers from a top-tier US army unit when they attempted to flee into a heavily secured panic room, the pair are currently in custody in a detention centre within New York City and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.
At sunrise on Saturday, the magnitude of the military operation in the capital, the nation's capital, became apparent.
Pictures of the vast military base, an enormous army installation in which top government officials reside, show destroyed buildings as well as charred, smoking cars.
It was at this base where Maduro and his wife were captured, a senior political figure a party official stated.
The mission commenced with reports of explosions at about 2 AM local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).
The US cut power to the city, Trump later described, calling it pitch black and dangerous.
The aim was to neutralize the nation's air defense systems and open up the path for US military helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.
Our evaluation was that we had maintained totally the element of surprise", a senior military officer remarked.
Strike locations included the base, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures show the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen from a great distance.
Residents reported the way American choppers flew low above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.
A number of the aircraft came under fire, however were still able to fly, officials stated.
"It was significant gunfire," Trump noted.
Once on the ground, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed.
They entered to the compound at 02:01 local time, and the Maduros surrendered without a struggle, as per accounts.
However, more details emerged. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.
"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he failed to make it to the door as our personnel were too quick.
It featured a very thick entryway, a massive door," the President informed the media. He reached the entrance. He could not to close it."
But even if they had managed to enter the bunker, troops could have blown it open in approximately "under a minute."
Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved approximately 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan.
They were taken by air out of Caracas by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a naval vessel stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was completed in international waters by 04:29.
It was on the ship where an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - the president in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold resembling dark sunglasses.
After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.
The Maduros were then flown via official aircraft to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, and then via helicopter into New York City.
On Saturday, footage was released showing Maduro at the federal drug agency's headquarters in New York.
The couple are now detained at a federal holding facility within the city.
They have been charged including planning drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and explosives, and conspiracy to possess such weapons and destructive devices against the US.
"They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil within US courtrooms," a senior legal official proclaimed.
Footage shows Maduro's arrival into American and journey into custody.
