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The US claim the armed forces mission aimed at apprehending Venezuela's president involved months of careful preparation, however the moment the US President issued the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in roughly two and a half hours.

The unexpected early-morning assault this past weekend signified a historic event in modern politics and resulted in the detention for Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Seized by soldiers from an elite US army unit as they tried to flee into a fortified safe room, the pair are now being held in a detention centre within New York City and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

The Dawn Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

As the sun rose on Saturday, the scale of the military operation in Caracas, Venezuela's primary city, was evident.

Images of Fuerte Tiuna, a massive military complex in which top government officials reside, depict destroyed structures and burned, smoking cars.

It was at this base that Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández indicated.

Hours Before - Trump Issues the Command

The mission commenced amid reports of explosions at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT).

American forces cut power to the city, the President later described, describing it as pitch black and dangerous.

The goal was to neutralize the nation's air defense systems and clear the path for US military helicopters to get to the target.

Our evaluation was that we successfully kept totally the element of surprise", a senior military officer commented.

Strike locations included the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Images depict Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with huge flames visible for miles.

Venezuelans reported the way US military helicopters flew low above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, however were still able to fly, military leaders said.

"It was a lot of weapons fire," the President added.

The Lightning-Fast Ground Assault

After landing, troops 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 resistance, according to accounts.

However, further information were provided. They attempted to flee into a secure location, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to make it inside as our personnel were too quick.

"It was an extremely heavy door, a very heavy door," Trump told reporters. "He made it to the door. He was unable to shut it."

But even if they had managed to get into the bunker, forces could have breached it in approximately "under a minute."

From Caracas to Manhattan

Now in US custody, the couple were transported some 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were flown out of Caracas via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel stationed in the Caribbean. The team was back "over the water" by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel where an iconic image from the entire mission was captured - Maduro shackled, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear resembling dark sunglasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.

The Maduros then traveled on a government plane to a military airfield in New York, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Confronting Justice on US Territory

On Saturday, a video was released depicting Maduro at the federal drug agency's main office in the city.

The couple are now being held at a federal holding facility within the city.

They have been charged including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and explosives, and plots to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the US.

"They will soon face the full wrath of the US legal system in the United States within US courtrooms," the Attorney General declared.

Footage shows the leader's entry into American and journey into custody.