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The US claim the military operation aimed at apprehending Venezuela's leader required months of careful preparation, but when Donald Trump issued the order to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately 150 minutes.

The unexpected early-morning attack on Saturday represented an unprecedented incident in modern politics and culminated in the detention of Venezuela's president and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Captured by troops from a top-tier US army unit as they tried to flee inside a fortified safe room, the two are currently in custody in a detention centre within New York City and face narco-terrorism charges.

A Dawn Raid against Fuerte Tiuna

At sunrise on Saturday, the magnitude of the armed intervention in Caracas, Venezuela's primary city, was evident.

Pictures from the vast military base, an enormous army installation in which key officials live, show bombed out buildings as well as burned, smouldering cars.

It was at this base that the president and first lady were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández indicated.

Hours Before - Trump Issues the Command

The mission started with reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

American forces cut power across the capital, Trump later described, calling it "dark and deadly".

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

Our evaluation was that we successfully kept totally the advantage of surprise," a senior military officer remarked.

Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airport. Pictures depict the complex on fire, with huge flames seen for miles.

Residents reported how US military helicopters flew at low altitude above the city, heading for the military base.

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

"It was significant weapons fire," the President added.

The Lightning-Fast Ground Assault

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

They gained access the facility just after 2 AM Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, as per accounts.

However, further information were provided. They tried to escape into a safe place, referred to as a military "fortress".

"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside because our guys were too quick.

It featured an extremely heavy door, a massive door," Trump informed the media. He reached to the door. He was unable to close it."

But even if they had succeeded to get into the bunker, forces could have blown it open in approximately "47 seconds".

From the Capital to New York City

Currently under American detention, the couple were moved some 2,100 miles, to New York City.

They were flown out of Caracas via chopper, and transferred to a US warship, a warship positioned off the coast. The team was back "over the water" before 4:30 AM.

It was on the ship where an iconic image of the whole operation was captured - the president in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and darkened eyewear resembling dark sunglasses.

After leaving the ship, his initial stop was to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

They then traveled via official aircraft to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York state, before a final helicopter transfer to Manhattan.

Confronting The Legal System in American Soil

On Saturday, a video was released depicting the detainee inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in the city.

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

They face charges with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, possession of automatic weapons and explosives, and plots to acquire such weapons and bombs to use against America.

"They will soon face the complete force of the US legal system on American soil in American courts," the Attorney General declared.

Video shows the leader's entry into American and transport to detention.