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American officials state their armed forces mission to capture the South American nation's president involved months of planning, yet when the US President issued the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately two and a half hours.

The unexpected early-morning strike this past weekend marked a never-before-seen event within modern politics and culminated in the detention of Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by soldiers from an elite American military force when they attempted to escape inside a fortified secure chamber, the couple are currently detained in a detention centre in New York and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

The Early Morning Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

As the sun rose on Saturday, the magnitude of the military operation in the capital, Venezuela's capital, became apparent.

Photographs from the vast military base, a massive military complex where top government officials reside, reveal bombed out buildings and charred, smoking cars.

The location was this base where the president and first lady were apprehended, a senior political figure a party official indicated.

Just Moments Before - The President Gives the Order

The mission commenced with reports of blasts around 2 AM local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

The US cut power to the city, Trump later described, describing it as "dark and deadly".

The aim was to disable the nation's air defense systems and open up the path for US military helicopters to reach the target.

"We assessed that we successfully kept completely the advantage of surprise," the top general commented.

Strike locations included the compound, a port and an airport. Pictures depict the complex engulfed in flames, with huge flames seen from a great distance.

Venezuelans reported the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude over Caracas, en route to the military base.

Some of the helicopters came under fire, but managed to continue flying, military leaders said.

There was significant gunfire," Trump noted.

A Rapid Ground Assault

After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, moved quickly.

They gained access to the compound just after 2 AM Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, according to reports.

But, further information emerged. They attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to get to the door as our personnel were too quick.

It featured a very thick entryway, a massive door," Trump informed the media. "He made it the entrance. He could not to close it."

However, even assuming they had managed to enter the bunker, forces 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 transported approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were flown out of Caracas by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a warship positioned in the Caribbean. The team was back in international waters before 4:30 AM.

It was on the ship that an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - the president in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses.

After leaving the ship, his initial stop was at the American naval installation in Cuba.

They were then flown on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Facing Justice in US Territory

On Saturday, footage emerged showing Maduro at the federal drug agency's headquarters in New York.

The couple are presently 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 machine guns and destructive devices, and plots to acquire such weapons and bombs to use against America.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of American justice on American soil within US courtrooms," a senior legal official declared.

Video documents Maduro's arrival into American and transport to detention.