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The US assert their armed forces mission aimed at apprehending the South American nation's leader took many weeks of careful preparation, but when Donald Trump issued the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately two and a half hours.

The surprise pre-dawn attack this past weekend represented a never-before-seen incident in modern politics and culminated in the detention of Venezuela's president and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Captured by troops from an elite US army unit as they tried to escape into a heavily secured secure chamber, the couple are now detained at a holding facility within New York City and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.

A Early Morning Assault against the Military Complex

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

Photographs of Fuerte Tiuna, an enormous military complex where top government officials live, depict blasted structures and burned, smouldering vehicles.

The location was this base that the president and first lady were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official stated.

Hours Before - The President Gives the Command

"Operation Absolute Resolve" began amid reports of explosions around 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT).

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

The goal was to neutralize the nation's air defences and open up the way for American assault helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.

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

Strike locations encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures show the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen for miles.

Venezuelans reported the way American choppers flew low above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

A number of the aircraft were shot at, however were still able to fly, officials said.

There was a lot of gunfire," the President added.

The Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

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 Maduros "gave up" without resistance, according to accounts.

However, further information were provided. They tried to escape into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to make it to the door because our guys were too quick.

"It was a very thick entryway, a massive door," the President told reporters. "He made it the entrance. He was unable to close it."

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

From Caracas to New York City

Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air from the capital by helicopter, and taken to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel positioned in the Caribbean. The operation was completed "over the water" before 4:30 AM.

It was on the ship where one of the defining pictures of the whole operation emerged - the president in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold that looked like opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.

They were then flown on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, before a final helicopter transfer to Manhattan.

Facing Justice in American Soil

That same day, 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 with planning drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and plots to possess machine guns and destructive devices 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 proclaimed.

Video shows Maduro's arrival in US and journey into custody.