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American officials assert the military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president required months of planning, however the moment the US President issued the command to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in about two and a half hours.

The shocking early-morning attack this past weekend represented a historic event within modern politics and resulted in the detention of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Apprehended by troops belonging to a top-tier American military force when they tried to flee inside a heavily secured panic room, the two are currently being held in a detention centre in New York and are confronting narco-terrorism charges.

The Dawn Assault against Fuerte Tiuna

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

Images from the vast military base, a massive army installation in which key officials live, depict bombed out structures as well as burned, smoking vehicles.

It was at this compound that Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández reported.

Hours Before - The President Gives the Command

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

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

The goal was to disable the nation's air defences and open up the path for American assault helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna.

"We assessed that we successfully kept completely the advantage of surprise," the top general commented.

Strike locations encompassed the compound, a port and an airfield. Pictures depict the complex on fire, with massive fires seen from a great distance.

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

Some of the helicopters came under fire, however 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 to the compound at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple surrendered without a struggle, according to accounts.

But, further information emerged. They attempted to flee into a secure location, referred to as a military "fortress".

The secure room is all steel, and he wasn't able to get to the door as our personnel were too quick.

"It was a very thick entryway, a massive door," the President told reporters. He reached the entrance. He was unable to shut it."

But even if they had managed to enter the safe room, troops could have breached it in about "under a minute."

From Caracas to Manhattan

Now in US custody, the couple were transported approximately 3,400 kilometers, to New York City.

They were taken by air from the capital by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a naval vessel stationed off the coast. The team was back "over the water" by 04:29.

It was on the ship that one of the defining pictures from the entire mission emerged - Maduro shackled, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold that looked like dark sunglasses.

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

They then traveled on a government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Confronting The Legal System in American Soil

On Saturday, a video emerged showing Maduro at the federal drug agency's headquarters in the city.

The couple are now detained in a detention centre in the city.

They face charges including conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and plots to acquire machine guns and bombs against the US.

"They will soon face the complete force of the US legal system on American soil within US courtrooms," a senior legal official declared.

Footage documents the leader's entry into American and journey into custody.