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The US assert their armed forces mission to capture Venezuela's president took many weeks of planning, however when the US President issued the order to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately two and a half hours.

The surprise early-morning attack on Saturday represented a historic event in modern politics and resulted in the detention for Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by soldiers from an elite US army unit when they tried to flee inside a fortified panic room, the couple are now detained at a holding facility in New York and face drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.

The Dawn Assault against Fuerte Tiuna

With daybreak that morning, the scale of the armed intervention in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, was clear.

Images of the vast military base, an enormous military complex in which top government officials reside, reveal blasted buildings as well as burned, smoking vehicles.

It was at this facility where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official reported.

Just Moments Before - Trump Issues the Command

"Operation Absolute Resolve" commenced amid reports of blasts at about 2 AM in Caracas (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

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

The aim was to neutralize the nation's air defences and clear the way for American assault helicopters to get to the target.

Our evaluation was that we had maintained totally the advantage of surprise," the top general remarked.

Targeted sites included the base, a port and an airport. Images show the complex on fire, with massive fires seen from a great distance.

Venezuelans reported the way US military helicopters flew low over Caracas, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters came under fire, however were still able to fly, officials stated.

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

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

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

They gained access the facility just after 2 AM local time, and the Maduros "gave up" without a struggle, according to accounts.

However, more details emerged. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

The secure room is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside because our guys were so fast.

It featured an extremely heavy entryway, a massive door," the President informed the media. He reached to the door. He was unable to close it."

However, even assuming they had succeeded to enter the bunker, forces could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds".

From Caracas to Manhattan

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved some 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 completed in international waters by 04:29.

It was on the ship where one of the defining pictures from the entire mission emerged - the president in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear that looked like opaque glasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.

The Maduros were then flown on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, before a final helicopter transfer into New York City.

Confronting Justice on US Territory

That same day, footage emerged showing Maduro inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in the city.

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

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, possession of machine guns and explosives, and conspiracy to possess such weapons and bombs to use against America.

"They will soon face the full wrath of the US legal system in the United States within US courtrooms," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Video shows the leader's entry in US and transport to detention.