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The US assert their armed forces mission to capture the South American nation's president involved many weeks of planning, however the moment the US President issued the order to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in roughly two and a half hours.

The unexpected early-morning assault this past weekend signified a never-before-seen incident in modern politics and led directly to the detention of Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Captured by troops from an elite American military force when they attempted to escape into a heavily secured secure chamber, the two are now in custody in a detention centre in New York and are confronting narco-terrorism charges.

The Early Morning Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

At sunrise that morning, the magnitude of the armed intervention in the capital, Venezuela's capital, was evident.

Photographs from the vast military base, a huge military complex where senior leadership live, depict bombed out buildings as well as burned, smouldering cars.

It was at this base that the president and first lady were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official reported.

Hours Before - The President Gives the Order

The mission began amid reports of blasts at about 02:00 in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

American forces cut power to the city, the President has since said, describing it as "dark and deadly".

The aim was to disable the nation's air defences and open up the path for American assault helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna.

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

Strike locations included the base, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures depict the complex on fire, with massive fires visible for miles.

Venezuelans have described how US military helicopters flew low over Caracas, heading for the military base.

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

"It was significant gunfire," the President noted.

The Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, troops from an elite special operations unit, acted with speed.

They entered the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without a struggle, according to reports.

However, more details emerged. They tried to escape into a safe place, referred to as a military "fortress".

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he failed to get inside because our guys were too quick.

It featured a very thick door, a very heavy door," Trump told reporters. He reached to the door. He was unable to close it."

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

From Caracas to Manhattan

Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved some 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.

They were taken by air out of Caracas via chopper, and transferred to a US warship, a warship positioned in the Caribbean. The team was completed in international waters by 04:29.

It was on the ship that an iconic image from the entire mission was captured - Maduro shackled, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear resembling dark sunglasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

The Maduros then traveled via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York state, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Confronting Justice on US Territory

That same day, footage emerged depicting Maduro inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in New York.

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

They have been charged with planning drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning automatic weapons and destructive devices, and plots to possess such weapons and destructive devices to use against America.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of the US legal system in the United States within US courtrooms," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Video documents the leader's entry into American and transport into custody.