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American officials assert the military operation to capture the South American nation's leader took many weeks of planning, but when the US President issued the order to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after about two and a half hours.

The surprise early-morning assault this past weekend represented a historic incident within contemporary international relations and culminated in the detention for Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Captured by troops belonging to a top-tier American military force as they tried to flee into a fortified safe room, the couple are now being held in a detention centre in New York and face narco-terrorism indictments.

The Early Morning Raid on the Military Complex

With daybreak on Saturday, the extent of the military operation in the capital, the nation's primary city, became apparent.

Pictures from the vast military base, an enormous military complex in which top government officials reside, reveal blasted buildings and charred, smouldering cars.

It was at this base where the president and first lady were captured, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández reported.

Just Moments Before - Trump Gives the Order

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

American forces cut power to the city, Trump has since said, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The goal was to neutralize Venezuela's air defense systems and open up the path for American assault helicopters to reach the target.

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

Targeted sites encompassed the base, a port and an airfield. Images depict Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with huge flames seen from a great distance.

Venezuelans have described the way US military helicopters flew at low altitude over Caracas, en route to the military base.

A number of the aircraft were shot at, but managed to continue flying, military leaders said.

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

A Lightning-Fast Ground Assault

Once on the ground, forces from an elite special operations unit, moved quickly.

They gained access to the compound at 02:01 Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, according to reports.

But, further information emerged. They tried to escape into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

The secure room is all steel, and he failed to get to the door as our personnel were too quick.

"It was a very thick door, a very heavy door," the President informed the media. "He made it to the door. He could not to close it."

But even if they had managed to enter the safe room, forces could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds".

From the Capital to New York City

Currently under American detention, the couple were transported some 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.

They were flown out of Caracas via chopper, and taken to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel positioned in the Caribbean. The team was completed "over the water" by 04:29.

It was on the ship that one of the defining pictures of the whole operation was captured - Maduro shackled, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear resembling opaque glasses.

After leaving the ship, his initial stop was at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.

They then traveled on a government plane to a military airfield 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 inside the federal drug agency's main office in New York.

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

They face charges with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to acquire such weapons and bombs to use against America.

They are set to encounter the complete force of American justice in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General declared.

Footage documents Maduro's arrival in US and transport into custody.