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American officials claim the military operation to capture Venezuela's leader involved many weeks of planning, however when the US President issued the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately two and a half hours.

The unexpected early-morning assault this past weekend represented a historic incident within modern politics and culminated in the detention of Venezuela's president and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Captured by troops belonging to an elite US army unit when they tried to escape inside a fortified safe room, the couple are currently detained in a detention centre in New York and face drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

The Early Morning Assault against Fuerte Tiuna

At sunrise on Saturday, the extent of the military operation in the capital, Venezuela's capital, was clear.

Images from the vast military base, a massive military complex in which key officials reside, depict bombed out buildings as well as charred, smouldering cars.

It was at this facility that the president and first lady were apprehended, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández indicated.

Just Moments Earlier - The President Issues the Command

The mission commenced with reports of blasts around 2 AM local time (6:00 Greenwich Mean Time).

American forces cut power to the city, Trump has since said, describing it as "dark and deadly".

The objective was to neutralize the nation's air defences and open up the path for US military helicopters to get to Fuerte Tiuna.

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

Targeted sites encompassed the compound, a port and an airport. Images show the complex engulfed in flames, with huge flames seen from a great distance.

Venezuelans reported how US military helicopters flew low above the city, heading for the military base.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, however were still able to fly, military leaders said.

There was significant gunfire," the President added.

A Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, forces from an elite special operations unit, sprang into action.

They entered the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without a struggle, as per accounts.

However, more details were provided. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, referred to as a military "fortress".

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

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

However, even assuming they had managed to enter the bunker, troops could have breached it in approximately "under a minute."

From Caracas to New York City

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

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

It was on the ship where an iconic image from the entire mission was captured - the president shackled, with hearing protection and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was to the US Navy base in Cuba.

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

Confronting The Legal System on American Soil

On Saturday, footage emerged depicting the detainee inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in New York.

The couple are now being held at a federal holding facility in the city.

They face charges with planning drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, possession of machine guns and explosives, and conspiracy to acquire machine guns and bombs against the US.

They are set to encounter the complete force of American justice in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General proclaimed.

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