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The US assert their armed forces mission to capture the South American nation's president required many weeks of careful preparation, but when Donald Trump gave the command to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" only lasted about 150 minutes.

The surprise pre-dawn assault this past weekend signified a never-before-seen event in modern politics and led directly to the detention for Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Captured by soldiers belonging to a top-tier US army unit while they attempted to flee into a fortified secure chamber, the couple are now in custody in a detention centre in New York and face drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.

The Dawn Assault against Fuerte Tiuna

As the sun rose that morning, the magnitude of the military operation in Caracas, the nation's primary city, was clear.

Photographs from the vast military base, a massive army installation where key officials reside, reveal bombed out buildings and burned, smouldering cars.

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

Hours Earlier - The President Issues the Command

"Operation Absolute Resolve" commenced with reports of blasts at approximately 2 AM local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

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

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

Our evaluation was that we had maintained completely the advantage of surprise," a senior military officer remarked.

Strike locations encompassed the base, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures show Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with massive fires visible from a great distance.

Venezuelans have described how US military helicopters flew low over Caracas, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters came under fire, but were still able to fly, officials stated.

There was a lot of gunfire," Trump added.

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, troops 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 a struggle, as per reports.

But, more details emerged. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he failed to get to the door as our personnel were too quick.

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

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

From Caracas to New York City

Currently under American detention, the couple were transported some 2,100 miles, to New York City.

They were flown from the capital via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship positioned off the coast. The operation was completed "over the water" by 04:29.

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

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

The Maduros were then flown on a government plane to a military airfield in New York state, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Facing The Legal System on US Territory

That same day, footage was released depicting the detainee inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in the city.

He and Cilia Flores are now detained at a federal holding facility in the city.

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, owning automatic weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons and bombs against the US.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of American justice in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General proclaimed.

Footage shows the leader's entry in US and transport into custody.