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American officials assert the armed forces mission to capture the South American nation's leader took months of careful preparation, but when the US President issued the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in roughly 150 minutes.

The unexpected early-morning assault on Saturday represented a historic event in modern politics and led directly to the detention for Venezuela's president along with his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Apprehended by soldiers belonging to a top-tier US army unit as they tried to flee into a heavily secured secure chamber, the two are now detained at a holding facility within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

The Dawn Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

With daybreak on Saturday, the scale of the armed intervention in the capital, the nation's primary city, was evident.

Pictures of the vast military base, a massive military complex where top government officials reside, depict destroyed buildings and charred, smoking cars.

It was at this compound that the president and first lady were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official stated.

Hours Earlier - Trump Gives the Order

The mission commenced amid reports of blasts at approximately 2 AM in Caracas (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

American forces disabled electricity across the capital, the President has since said, describing it as pitch black and dangerous.

The goal was to neutralize the nation's air defences and clear the path for US military helicopters to reach the target.

Our evaluation was that we successfully kept completely the advantage of surprise," the top general commented.

Strike locations included the compound, a maritime facility and an airport. Pictures show the complex engulfed in flames, with huge flames visible from a great distance.

Venezuelans reported how US military helicopters flew at low altitude above the city, en route to the military base.

Some of the helicopters came under fire, however were still able to fly, military leaders said.

"It was significant weapons fire," the President noted.

The Rapid Ground Assault

Once on the ground, troops from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed.

They entered the facility at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without a struggle, according to accounts.

However, more details were provided. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place is all steel, and he wasn't able to get inside because our guys were so fast.

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

But even if they had managed to get into the safe room, troops could have breached it in approximately "47 seconds".

From the Capital to New York City

Currently under American detention, the couple were moved some 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air out of Caracas by helicopter, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The team was back in international waters before 4:30 AM.

Aboard the vessel that an iconic image from the entire mission was captured - the president shackled, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold that looked like dark sunglasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

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

Facing Justice in American Soil

That same day, a video emerged showing the detainee at the federal drug agency's main office in New York.

The couple are now detained at a federal holding facility in the city.

They have been charged including planning drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons and bombs against the US.

"They will soon face the complete force of the US legal system on American soil within US courtrooms," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Footage shows Maduro's arrival in US and journey to detention.