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American officials assert their military operation to capture the South American nation's leader involved many weeks of planning, but the moment Donald Trump gave the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" only lasted about 150 minutes.

The shocking early-morning assault on Saturday marked a never-before-seen event in modern politics and resulted in the arrest for Venezuela's president and his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Seized by soldiers belonging to an elite US army unit as they tried to flee into a fortified panic room, the pair are currently detained at a holding facility within New York City and face narco-terrorism indictments.

The Dawn Assault on Fuerte Tiuna

With daybreak that morning, the magnitude of the military operation in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, was clear.

Photographs from the vast military base, a huge military complex where key officials reside, reveal destroyed buildings and charred, smoking vehicles.

It was at this facility that the president and first lady were apprehended, a senior political figure a party official indicated.

Hours Earlier - The President Gives the Command

The mission commenced with reports of explosions at about 02:00 in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

The US cut power to the city, Trump has since said, describing it as pitch black and dangerous.

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

Our evaluation was that we successfully kept totally the element of surprise", a senior military officer stated.

Targeted sites included the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures show Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with massive fires visible for miles.

Residents reported how US military helicopters flew low above the city, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

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

There was significant weapons fire," Trump added.

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, troops from an elite special operations unit, moved quickly.

They entered the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without a struggle, as per accounts.

However, more details emerged. They attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

"The safe place is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it to the door as our personnel were so fast.

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

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

From Caracas to New York City

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

They were taken by air out of Caracas via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel stationed off the coast. The team was completed in international waters by 04:29.

It was on the ship where an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - Maduro in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold resembling dark sunglasses.

After leaving the ship, his initial stop was to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

The Maduros were then flown via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York state, before a final helicopter transfer to Manhattan.

Confronting The Legal System in US Territory

That same day, a video was released depicting the detainee inside the federal drug agency's headquarters in New York.

The couple are presently detained at a federal holding facility within the city.

They face charges with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to acquire machine guns 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 Maduro's arrival into American and journey into custody.