From that Venezuelan capital stronghold all the way to a New York courtroom: The Venezuelan leader's apprehension through photographs and maps.
The US state the military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's leader involved many weeks of planning, however when the US President gave the command to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" only lasted roughly 150 minutes.
The shocking early-morning assault on Saturday signified a never-before-seen incident in contemporary international relations and resulted in the arrest for Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Seized by troops belonging to a top-tier American military force while they tried to escape into a fortified panic room, the couple are now being held in a detention centre in New York and face narco-terrorism indictments.
The Early Morning Raid against the Military Complex
As the sun rose that morning, the magnitude of the armed intervention in Caracas, Venezuela's primary city, was clear.
Photographs from the vast military base, an enormous military complex in which key officials reside, reveal destroyed structures as well as charred, smouldering cars.
The location was this base that Maduro and his wife were captured, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández stated.
Hours Before - The President Issues the Order
The mission began with reports of explosions at about 02:00 in Caracas (06:00 GMT).
The US cut power across the capital, the President has since said, calling it "dark and deadly".
The aim was to neutralize Venezuela's air defences and open up the way for American assault helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.
Our evaluation was that we had maintained totally the advantage of surprise," a senior military officer remarked.
Targeted sites included the compound, a port and an airfield. Images depict the complex engulfed in flames, with huge flames visible for miles.
Venezuelans have described the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude over Caracas, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.
A number of the aircraft were shot at, however were still able to fly, military leaders said.
"It was significant gunfire," Trump noted.
A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation
After landing, troops from an elite special operations unit, acted with speed.
They gained access the facility just after 2 AM Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, as per accounts.
However, further information were provided. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".
The secure room was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to make it to the door as our personnel were too quick.
It featured an extremely heavy door, a very heavy door," the President told reporters. "He made it the entrance. He was unable to close it."
However, even assuming they had succeeded to get into the safe room, troops could have blown it open in about "47 seconds".
From the Capital to Manhattan
Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved approximately 2,100 miles, to New York City.
They were taken by air from the capital via chopper, and transferred to a US warship, a naval vessel stationed off the coast. The team was completed "over the water" by 04:29.
It was on the ship where an iconic image of the whole operation emerged - Maduro in handcuffs, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear that looked like opaque glasses.
From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.
The Maduros then traveled on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, and then via helicopter into New York City.
Confronting The Legal System on American Soil
On Saturday, footage was released depicting the detainee inside the federal drug agency's main office in New York.
He and Cilia Flores are presently being held at a federal holding facility in the city.
They have been charged including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and explosives, and plots to possess such weapons and destructive devices against the US.
"They will soon face the complete force of the US legal system in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General proclaimed.
Footage shows Maduro's arrival into American and transport into custody.
