From that Venezuelan capital 'fort' to the Manhattan courtroom: Maduro's apprehension in images as well as maps.
American officials assert the military operation to capture Venezuela's president required months of planning, however when the US President gave the command to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately 150 minutes.
The shocking pre-dawn assault on Saturday represented a historic event in contemporary international relations and resulted in the arrest of Venezuela's president along with his spouse, Cilia Flores.
Apprehended by troops belonging to an elite American military force when they attempted to flee into a heavily secured secure chamber, the couple are now in custody at a holding facility in New York and face drug trafficking and terrorism indictments.
The Dawn Assault against Fuerte Tiuna
At sunrise that morning, the extent of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's primary city, was clear.
Photographs of Fuerte Tiuna, a huge army installation where key officials live, show blasted structures and burned, smoking cars.
It was at this compound where Maduro and his wife were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official reported.
Hours Before - The President Gives the Order
"Operation Absolute Resolve" began with reports of explosions around 02:00 in Caracas (06:00 GMT).
American forces cut power across the capital, the President later described, calling it "dark and deadly".
The aim was to disable Venezuela's air defense systems and clear the path for US military helicopters to reach the target.
"We assessed that we had maintained totally the advantage of surprise," the top general remarked.
Strike locations included the compound, a port and an airport. Images depict the complex on fire, with massive fires visible from a great distance.
Residents reported how American choppers flew at low altitude above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.
Some of the helicopters were shot at, but managed to continue flying, military leaders said.
"It was a lot of gunfire," the President noted.
A Lightning-Fast Ground Assault
After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed.
They gained access to the compound at 02:01 Caracas time, and the Maduros surrendered without resistance, according to accounts.
But, further information emerged. The Maduros attempted to flee into a secure location, referred to as a military "fortress".
The secure room is all steel, and he failed to get to the door because our guys were so fast.
It featured a very thick entryway, a massive door," Trump informed the media. "He made it to the door. He was unable to close it."
However, even assuming they had succeeded to enter the bunker, troops could have blown it open in about "under a minute."
From the Capital to Manhattan
Currently under American detention, the couple were transported approximately 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.
They were flown from the capital by helicopter, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship positioned off the coast. The operation was back in international waters by 04:29.
It was on the ship that one of the defining pictures from the entire mission emerged - the president shackled, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear resembling opaque glasses.
From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.
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.
Confronting The Legal System in American Soil
On Saturday, footage emerged showing the detainee inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in New York.
He and Cilia Flores are presently being held at a federal holding facility in the city.
They have been charged with planning drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to acquire machine guns and destructive devices against the US.
"They will soon face the complete force of American justice in the United States within US courtrooms," the Attorney General declared.
Video documents Maduro's arrival into American and transport into custody.
