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The US state their military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president took months of planning, but when the US President issued the command to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in about two and a half hours.

The unexpected pre-dawn attack this past weekend marked a historic incident in contemporary international relations and culminated in the detention for Nicolás Maduro along with his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Captured by soldiers belonging to an elite American military force as they tried to flee inside a heavily secured panic room, the two are now detained at a holding facility in New York and face narco-terrorism accusations.

The Early Morning Assault against Fuerte Tiuna

With daybreak that morning, the extent of the armed intervention in the capital, Venezuela's primary city, was clear.

Pictures of the vast military base, an enormous army installation where top government officials live, depict bombed out structures as well as charred, smouldering vehicles.

It was at this base where the president and first lady were apprehended, a senior political figure a party official reported.

Hours Earlier - Trump Gives the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" commenced with reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM in Caracas (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

American forces cut power to the city, the President later described, describing it as pitch black and dangerous.

The objective was to neutralize Venezuela's air defense systems and clear the way for American assault helicopters to reach the target.

"We assessed that we had maintained completely the element of surprise", the top general commented.

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

Venezuelans reported how US military helicopters flew low above the city, en route to the military base.

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

"It was significant weapons fire," Trump noted.

A Rapid Ground Assault

Once on the ground, forces from an elite special operations unit, sprang into action.

They gained access the facility just after 2 AM local time, and the Maduros "gave up" without a struggle, according to reports.

But, more details emerged. They tried to escape into a safe place, referred to as a military "fortress".

"The safe place is all steel, and he failed to get inside because our guys were so fast.

It featured an extremely heavy entryway, a massive door," Trump informed the media. "He made it to the door. He could not to close it."

However, even assuming they had managed to enter the safe room, troops could have breached it in approximately "47 seconds".

From the Capital to Manhattan

Now in US custody, the couple were transported some 2,100 miles, to New York City.

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

Aboard the vessel that one of the defining pictures from the entire mission was captured - Maduro in handcuffs, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear that looked like dark sunglasses.

After leaving the ship, his initial stop was at the American naval installation in Cuba.

They were then flown via official aircraft to a military airfield in New York, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Facing Justice in US Territory

That same day, footage emerged depicting the detainee at the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in New York.

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

They face charges with planning narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking, possession of automatic weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the US.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of the US legal system in the United States within US courtrooms," the Attorney General proclaimed.

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