From the Venezuelan capital 'fort' to the New York courtroom: Maduro's capture in images and geographic charts.

The US claim their armed forces mission aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president required months of planning, but when Donald Trump issued the command to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately 150 minutes.

The unexpected pre-dawn strike this past weekend signified an unprecedented event within modern politics and culminated in the detention for Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Captured by soldiers from a top-tier US army unit while they attempted to escape into a fortified secure chamber, the two are now being held in a detention centre within New York City and face narco-terrorism indictments.

A Early Morning Raid on the Military Complex

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

Images from Fuerte Tiuna, an enormous army installation in which key officials live, reveal bombed out buildings and burned, smoking cars.

The location was this compound where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official reported.

Hours Earlier - Trump Issues the Command

The mission started with reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM local time (06:00 GMT).

American forces cut power to the city, the President has since said, calling it pitch black and dangerous.

The objective was to neutralize Venezuela's air defences and clear the way for American assault helicopters to reach the target.

Our evaluation was that we had maintained completely the element of surprise", the top general remarked.

Strike locations encompassed the base, a port and an airfield. Images depict Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with huge flames visible from a great distance.

Venezuelans have described the way American choppers flew at low altitude over Caracas, heading for the military base.

A number of the aircraft came under fire, but were still able to fly, officials stated.

There was a lot of gunfire," Trump added.

The Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

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

They entered to the compound at 02:01 Caracas time, and the presidential couple surrendered without resistance, according to reports.

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

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

It featured a very thick entryway, a very heavy door," Trump told reporters. He reached the entrance. He was unable to close it."

However, even assuming they had managed to enter the bunker, troops 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 approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were flown from the capital by helicopter, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a warship positioned in the Caribbean. The operation was back "over the water" by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel that an iconic image from the entire mission was captured - Maduro shackled, with hearing protection and darkened eyewear resembling dark sunglasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown to the US Navy base in Cuba.

They then traveled via official aircraft to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, and then via helicopter to Manhattan.

Confronting The Legal System in American Soil

That same day, a video emerged showing the detainee at the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in New York.

The couple are now detained at a federal holding facility within the city.

They have been charged with planning drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and explosives, and conspiracy to acquire such weapons and destructive devices against the US.

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

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