From within that Caracas stronghold to a Manhattan court: Maduro's capture in photographs as well as geographic charts.
The US assert their military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president took months of careful preparation, yet when the US President issued the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately 150 minutes.
The unexpected pre-dawn assault on Saturday represented a never-before-seen incident in contemporary international relations and resulted in the detention of Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.
Seized by troops from a top-tier US army unit as they tried to escape into a fortified secure chamber, the two are now being held at a holding facility in New York and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism indictments.
A Early Morning Assault on Fuerte Tiuna
With daybreak that morning, the magnitude of the armed intervention in the capital, Venezuela's primary city, became apparent.
Photographs from Fuerte Tiuna, an enormous military complex where top government officials live, show destroyed structures and charred, smoking vehicles.
It was at this base where the president and first lady were captured, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández stated.
Hours Before - The President Gives the Command
"Operation Absolute Resolve" began with reports of blasts at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT).
The US cut power to the city, Trump later described, describing it as "dark and deadly".
The aim was to neutralize Venezuela's air defences and clear the way for American assault helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna.
Our evaluation was that we had maintained completely the element of surprise", the top general stated.
Targeted sites included the base, a port and an airfield. Pictures show Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with massive fires visible from a great distance.
Residents reported the way American choppers flew low over Caracas, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.
Some of the helicopters came under fire, however managed to continue flying, officials stated.
"It was significant weapons fire," Trump added.
A Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation
After landing, troops from an elite special operations unit, acted with speed.
They gained access the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, according to accounts.
But, more details emerged. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".
"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside because our guys were too quick.
It featured an extremely heavy door, a very heavy door," Trump told reporters. "He made it to the door. He could not to close it."
But even if they had succeeded to get into the safe room, troops could have blown it open in about "under a minute."
From the Capital to New York City
Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved approximately 2,100 miles, to New York City.
They were flown from the capital via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship positioned off the coast. The team was back "over the water" before 4:30 AM.
Aboard the vessel where one of the defining pictures from the entire mission was captured - Maduro in handcuffs, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear resembling opaque glasses.
After leaving the ship, he was first flown to the US Navy base in Cuba.
The Maduros were then flown on a government plane to a military airfield in New York, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.
Facing Justice on US Territory
That same day, a video emerged depicting Maduro at the federal drug agency's main office in New York.
He and Cilia Flores are presently detained in a detention centre in the city.
They have been charged with planning drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons and destructive devices to use against America.
They are set to encounter the complete force of American justice on American soil in American courts," a senior legal official declared.
Video shows the leader's entry in US and journey to detention.
