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American officials claim their military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president involved many weeks of planning, however when the US President issued the command to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" concluded after about 150 minutes.

The surprise pre-dawn strike this past weekend signified a historic incident within modern politics and led directly to the detention for Venezuela's president along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Captured by troops from an elite American military force as they tried to escape inside a heavily secured panic room, the two are currently being held in a detention centre in New York and are confronting narco-terrorism indictments.

The Early Morning Assault on Fuerte Tiuna

As the sun rose that morning, the scale of the military operation in the capital, Venezuela's capital, became apparent.

Images of Fuerte Tiuna, a huge military complex in which top government officials reside, depict destroyed structures as well as charred, smouldering vehicles.

It was at this compound where Maduro and his wife were captured, a senior political figure a party official reported.

Hours Earlier - Trump Issues the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" started amid reports of explosions at about 2 AM in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

The US cut power across the capital, the President has since said, describing it as pitch black and dangerous.

The objective was to disable Venezuela's air defences and open up the path for US military helicopters to reach the target.

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

Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures depict the complex on fire, with huge flames seen for miles.

Venezuelans reported how American choppers flew low above the city, heading for the military base.

A number of the aircraft came under fire, however were still able to fly, military leaders stated.

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

A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

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

They entered to the compound at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without resistance, as per accounts.

However, further information emerged. They tried to escape into a safe place, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to get inside as our personnel were too quick.

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

However, even assuming they had managed to get into the safe room, troops could have breached it in approximately "under a minute."

From Caracas to New York City

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

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

Aboard the vessel where an iconic image from the entire mission emerged - Maduro shackled, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear resembling dark sunglasses.

After leaving the ship, he was first flown to the US Navy base in Cuba.

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

Facing The Legal System on US Territory

That same day, footage was released showing the detainee inside the federal drug agency's main office in the city.

The couple are now detained in a detention centre in the city.

They have been charged with planning narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and bombs to use against America.

"They will soon face the full wrath of American justice in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General declared.

Footage shows Maduro's arrival into American and transport to detention.