From within that Caracas 'fort' all the way to the New York court: Maduro's seizure in photographs and maps.

American officials state their military operation to capture Venezuela's president involved many weeks of planning, however when Donald Trump issued the order to commence, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately 150 minutes.

The shocking early-morning attack on Saturday represented an unprecedented event within modern politics and resulted in the detention for Venezuela's president and his spouse, Cilia Flores.

Seized by soldiers from an elite American military force while they attempted to escape inside a heavily secured safe room, the couple are currently in custody in a detention centre within New York City and face narco-terrorism indictments.

The Early Morning Raid on the Military Complex

As the sun rose on Saturday, the extent of the military operation in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, was clear.

Pictures from the vast military base, a massive military complex where top government officials reside, depict bombed out buildings and charred, smouldering cars.

The location was this base where the president and first lady were captured, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández reported.

Hours Before - The President Gives the Command

The mission began amid reports of explosions at approximately 2 AM in Caracas (06:00 GMT).

The US cut power across the capital, Trump has since said, calling it "dark and deadly".

The objective was to disable the nation's air defense systems and open up the way for US military helicopters to reach Fuerte Tiuna.

"We assessed that we successfully kept completely the element of surprise", the top general stated.

Targeted sites included the compound, a port and an airport. Pictures show the complex on fire, with massive fires seen from a great distance.

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

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

There was a lot of gunfire," Trump added.

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

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

They gained access to the compound at 02:01 local time, and the presidential couple "gave up" without a struggle, as per reports.

However, more details were provided. They tried to escape into a secure location, referred to as a heavily fortified bunker.

"The safe place was constructed of steel, and he failed to make it inside as our personnel were too quick.

It featured an extremely heavy door, a massive door," Trump told reporters. He reached to the door. He could not to shut it."

However, even assuming they had succeeded to get into the safe room, troops could have breached it in approximately "under a minute."

From Caracas to Manhattan

Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved some 2,100 miles, to New York City.

They were flown out of Caracas via chopper, and taken to a US warship, a warship stationed off the coast. The operation 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 shackled, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold that looked like opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, he was first flown at the American naval installation in Cuba.

They then traveled on a government plane to a military airfield in New York state, before a final helicopter transfer into New York City.

Facing The Legal System on American Soil

That same day, a video emerged showing Maduro inside the federal drug agency's main office in the city.

The couple are now being held in a detention centre within the city.

They face charges with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking, possession of automatic weapons and explosives, and plots to possess such weapons and destructive devices against the US.

"They will soon face the full wrath of the US legal system in the United States in American courts," the Attorney General proclaimed.

Video shows the leader's entry in US and transport to detention.