From the Venezuelan capital stronghold all the way to a Manhattan courtroom: Maduro's apprehension in images as well as maps.

American officials assert their military operation aimed at apprehending the South American nation's president required many weeks of careful preparation, but when Donald Trump gave the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" was completed in approximately two and a half hours.

The unexpected early-morning assault this past weekend marked an unprecedented event in modern politics and culminated in the detention for Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Apprehended by soldiers belonging to a top-tier American military force as they attempted to escape inside a heavily secured secure chamber, the couple are currently detained at a holding facility within New York City and are confronting drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

A Early Morning Assault on the Military Complex

As the sun rose on Saturday, the magnitude of the military operation in Caracas, the nation's primary city, was clear.

Images from the vast military base, an enormous military complex in which top government officials reside, reveal blasted buildings and charred, smouldering vehicles.

The location was this facility where Maduro and his wife were apprehended, Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández indicated.

Hours Before - The President Gives the Order

"Operation Absolute Resolve" commenced amid reports of explosions around 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 defense systems and open up the path for US military helicopters to reach the target.

"We assessed that we had maintained totally the advantage of surprise," the top general stated.

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

Residents reported the way US military helicopters flew low above the city, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

Some of the helicopters were shot at, but managed to continue flying, officials said.

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

A Lightning-Fast On-the-Ground Operation

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

They entered the facility at 02:01 Caracas time, and the Maduros "gave up" without resistance, according to reports.

But, further information were provided. The Maduros attempted to flee into a safe place, described as a heavily fortified bunker.

The secure room is all steel, and he failed to get inside because our guys were so fast.

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

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

From the Capital to Manhattan

Now in US custody, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were transported approximately 2,100 miles, to New York City.

They were flown out of Caracas by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a naval vessel positioned off the coast. The team was back in international waters by 04:29.

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

After leaving the ship, his initial stop was at the American naval installation at Guantánamo Bay.

They then traveled on a government plane to a military airfield in New York, and then via helicopter into New York City.

Facing The Legal System on American Soil

On Saturday, a video was released showing Maduro inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) headquarters in New York.

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

They face charges with conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and import cocaine, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to acquire such weapons and bombs to use against America.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of the US legal system in the United States within US courtrooms," a senior legal official declared.

Video documents the leader's entry into American and transport into custody.