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The US assert their military operation to capture Venezuela's president took many weeks of planning, but the moment the US President gave the command to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in about two and a half hours.

The shocking early-morning attack on Saturday represented a historic event in modern politics and led directly to the detention of Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by troops from an elite American military force as they attempted to flee into a heavily secured safe room, the couple are currently being held in a detention centre within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.

The Dawn Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

At sunrise that morning, the extent of the armed intervention in the capital, Venezuela's primary city, became apparent.

Photographs of the vast military base, a massive army installation in which senior leadership reside, reveal blasted buildings as well as burned, smouldering cars.

The location was this compound where the president and first lady were captured, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández reported.

Hours Before - Trump Issues the Command

The mission began amid reports of explosions around 02:00 local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

The US cut power across the capital, the President later described, describing it as pitch black and dangerous.

The objective was to disable Venezuela's air defense systems and open up the way for US military helicopters to get to the target.

Our evaluation was that we had maintained totally the advantage of surprise," a senior military officer stated.

Strike locations included the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures show the complex on fire, with massive fires visible from a great distance.

Residents reported the way US military helicopters flew low over Caracas, heading for the military base.

A number of the aircraft were shot at, however managed to continue flying, military leaders stated.

"It was a lot of weapons fire," Trump added.

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, troops from an elite special operations unit, sprang into action.

They gained access the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the Maduros surrendered without a struggle, as per accounts.

But, more details were provided. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, referred to as a military "fortress".

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he failed to make it to the door because our guys were so fast.

"It was an extremely heavy door, a very heavy door," Trump told reporters. He reached to the door. He could not to close it."

But even if they had succeeded to enter the bunker, forces could have breached it in approximately "47 seconds".

From the Capital to New York City

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were flown out of Caracas via chopper, and transferred to a US warship, a naval vessel stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was back in international waters by 04:29.

It was on the ship that an iconic image of the whole operation emerged - the president in handcuffs, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold that looked like opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.

They then traveled via official aircraft to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Confronting Justice on US Territory

On Saturday, footage emerged showing Maduro inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in the city.

He and Cilia Flores are now detained in a detention centre in the city.

They face charges with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons and bombs against the US.

"They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Footage documents the leader's entry into American and journey to detention.