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The US assert their armed forces mission to capture the South American nation's leader involved months of planning, but the moment Donald Trump issued the command to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in about two and a half hours.

The surprise early-morning attack on Saturday represented an unprecedented event within contemporary international relations and resulted in the detention for Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by troops from an elite US army unit as they tried to escape inside a heavily secured safe room, the two are currently in custody in a detention centre within New York City and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

A Dawn Raid against the Military Complex

With daybreak on Saturday, the scale of the military operation in Caracas, the nation's primary city, was evident.

Images of the vast military base, a huge army installation where senior leadership reside, reveal blasted buildings as well as burned, smouldering vehicles.

It was at this facility where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, a senior political figure a party official indicated.

Hours Earlier - Trump Issues the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" began with reports of blasts around 02:00 local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

The US cut power across the capital, Trump later described, describing it as "dark and deadly".

The goal was to neutralize Venezuela's air defense systems 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", the top general commented.

Targeted sites encompassed the base, a port and an airport. Images show Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen from a great distance.

Venezuelans have described the way American choppers flew low above the city, heading for Fuerte Tiuna.

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

"It was a lot of gunfire," Trump added.

A Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, moved quickly.

They gained access to the compound at 02:01 Caracas time, and the Maduros "gave up" without resistance, as per reports.

However, more details emerged. The Maduros attempted to flee into a secure location, described as a military "fortress".

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to make it to the door as our personnel were so fast.

It featured a very thick entryway, a very heavy door," Trump informed the media. "He made it the entrance. He could not to shut it."

But even if they had succeeded to get into the safe room, troops could have blown it open in about "47 seconds".

From Caracas to Manhattan

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported approximately 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air from the capital by helicopter, and taken to a US warship, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was back in international waters by 04:29.

It was on the ship that an iconic image of the whole operation emerged - the president in handcuffs, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear that looked like opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.

They were then flown on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, before a final helicopter transfer to Manhattan.

Facing Justice in US Territory

On Saturday, a video was released showing Maduro at the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in the city.

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

They face charges with planning narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of machine guns and explosives, and conspiracy to possess such weapons and destructive devices to use against America.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of the US legal system on American soil in American courts," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Video documents the leader's entry in US and journey to detention.