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The US claim their armed forces mission aimed at apprehending Venezuela's president took many weeks of careful preparation, but when Donald Trump issued the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" only lasted about two and a half hours.

The shocking early-morning strike on Saturday represented a never-before-seen event in contemporary international relations and resulted in the detention of Venezuela's president along with his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Captured by troops from an elite American military force while they tried to flee into a fortified secure chamber, the two are currently detained at a holding facility within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

The Dawn Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

As the sun rose that morning, the extent of the military operation in the capital, the nation's capital, was evident.

Photographs of Fuerte Tiuna, a huge army installation in which top government officials reside, reveal blasted structures and charred, smouldering vehicles.

The location was this facility that the president and first lady were captured, a senior political figure a party official stated.

Hours Earlier - The President Issues the Order

The mission commenced with reports of blasts at about 2 AM in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

The US cut power to the city, the President later described, describing it as "dark and deadly".

The goal was to neutralize Venezuela's air defense systems and clear the path for US military helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.

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

Strike locations included the base, a maritime facility and an airfield. Images depict Fuerte Tiuna engulfed in flames, with huge flames seen from a great distance.

Venezuelans reported the way American choppers flew low above the city, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

A number of the aircraft were shot at, however managed to continue flying, officials stated.

"It was significant gunfire," the President noted.

A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

Once on the ground, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, moved quickly.

They entered the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the Maduros surrendered without resistance, according to accounts.

However, more details emerged. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, referred to as a military "fortress".

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

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

However, even assuming they had succeeded to enter the bunker, forces could have blown it open in about "under a minute."

From the Capital to New York City

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved some 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air out of Caracas by helicopter, and taken to a US warship, a warship stationed off the coast. The operation was back in international waters by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel that one of the defining pictures of the whole operation was captured - the president in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear that looked like 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 Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Confronting The Legal System in American Soil

On Saturday, footage emerged showing the detainee inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in the city.

He and Cilia Flores are now detained in a detention centre in the city.

They have been charged including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of machine guns and explosives, and plots to possess such weapons and destructive devices to use against America.

They are set to encounter the complete force of the US legal system on American soil within US courtrooms," the Attorney General proclaimed.

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