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The US assert their military operation to capture Venezuela's leader required many weeks of planning, however the moment the US President gave the order to commence, "Operation Absolute Resolve" only lasted about two and a half hours.

The shocking pre-dawn attack this past weekend represented a historic event within modern politics and culminated in the detention of Venezuela's president and his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Seized by troops from a top-tier US army unit when they tried to flee into a heavily secured panic room, the pair are now detained at a holding facility within New York City and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.

A Early Morning Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

At sunrise on Saturday, the extent of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's primary city, became apparent.

Pictures from the vast military base, a massive military complex where senior leadership live, depict blasted buildings and charred, smoking vehicles.

It was at this facility where the president and first lady were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández indicated.

Hours Before - Trump Gives the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" began amid reports of explosions at approximately 02:00 local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

American forces cut power to the city, the President 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 get to Fuerte Tiuna.

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

Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airfield. Pictures show the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen for miles.

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

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

There was significant weapons fire," the President added.

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

Once on the ground, troops from an elite special operations unit, acted with speed.

They gained access the facility at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple surrendered without a struggle, according to reports.

But, more details were provided. The Maduros tried to escape into a secure location, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he failed to make it inside because our guys were so fast.

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

However, even assuming they had managed to enter the safe room, forces could have breached it in about "under a minute."

From the Capital to New York City

Now in US custody, the couple were moved some 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan.

They were flown out of Caracas via chopper, and taken to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship stationed off the coast. The operation was completed in international waters by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel that one of the defining pictures from the entire mission was captured - Maduro shackled, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold that looked like opaque glasses.

After leaving the ship, his initial stop was to the US Navy base in Cuba.

The Maduros then traveled on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, before a final helicopter transfer to Manhattan.

Confronting Justice in US Territory

On Saturday, a video was released depicting Maduro inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in New York.

He and Cilia Flores are presently being held in a detention centre in the city.

They face charges including conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, possession of machine guns and explosives, and plots to possess such weapons and bombs against the US.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts," the Attorney General declared.

Footage documents Maduro's arrival into American and transport into custody.