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The US assert the armed forces mission aimed at apprehending Venezuela's president involved months of planning, yet the moment the US President gave the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately two and a half hours.

The surprise pre-dawn attack on Saturday signified an unprecedented incident in modern politics and culminated in the detention of Venezuela's president and his wife, Cilia Flores.

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

The Early Morning Raid on Fuerte Tiuna

As the sun rose on Saturday, the magnitude of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's primary city, was evident.

Images from Fuerte Tiuna, an enormous army installation in which key officials live, reveal blasted structures 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.

Hours Earlier - The President Gives the Command

The mission started amid reports of explosions at about 2 AM in Caracas (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

The US cut power across the capital, Trump has since said, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The objective was to neutralize Venezuela's air defences and clear the path for US military helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.

"We assessed that we had maintained completely the element of surprise", a senior military officer remarked.

Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Images depict the complex on fire, with massive fires visible for miles.

Residents have described how American choppers flew low above the city, en route to the military base.

A number of the aircraft came under fire, but were still able to fly, officials stated.

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

A Lightning-Fast Ground Assault

After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed.

They gained access the facility at 02:01 local time, and the Maduros surrendered without a struggle, as per accounts.

However, more details were provided. The Maduros tried to escape into a secure location, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he failed to get to the door as our personnel were so fast.

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

However, even assuming they had succeeded to get into the bunker, troops could have breached it in approximately "47 seconds".

From Caracas to Manhattan

Now in US custody, the couple were transported some 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan.

They were flown out of Caracas by helicopter, and taken to a US warship, a naval vessel stationed off the coast. The operation was back "over the water" by 04:29.

It was on the ship that one of the defining pictures from the entire mission was captured - the president shackled, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold that looked like opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.

The Maduros then traveled via official aircraft to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Confronting Justice on US Territory

That same day, a video emerged depicting the detainee at the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office 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 narco-terrorism and import cocaine, owning automatic weapons and explosives, and conspiracy to possess such weapons and destructive devices against the US.

"They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil within US courtrooms," the Attorney General proclaimed.

Footage shows the leader's entry into American and transport to detention.