From that Venezuelan capital 'fort' all the way to the Manhattan court: Maduro's capture in pictures and maps.

American officials state the military operation aimed at apprehending Venezuela's president involved months of careful preparation, however when the US President issued the order to launch, "Operation Absolute Resolve" was completed in roughly two and a half hours.

The surprise early-morning attack this past weekend marked a never-before-seen incident in modern politics and culminated in the arrest of Venezuela's president along with his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Seized by soldiers from a top-tier American military force while they tried to flee inside a heavily secured secure chamber, the pair are currently being held in a detention centre within New York City and face narco-terrorism accusations.

A Dawn Assault on Fuerte Tiuna

With daybreak that morning, the magnitude of the military operation in the capital, the nation's capital, was clear.

Images of the vast military base, an enormous military complex in which key officials reside, reveal bombed out buildings as well as burned, smoking vehicles.

The location was this facility where the president and first lady were apprehended, a senior political figure Nahum Fernández indicated.

Just Moments Earlier - The President Gives the Command

The mission began amid reports of blasts around 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT).

The US disabled electricity across the capital, Trump has since said, describing it as pitch black and dangerous.

The aim was to disable the nation's air defense systems and clear the way for US military helicopters to reach the target.

"We assessed that we had maintained completely the advantage of surprise," the top general commented.

Strike locations encompassed the compound, a maritime facility and an airport. Pictures depict the complex engulfed in flames, with massive fires seen from a great distance.

Residents have described the way American choppers flew low over Caracas, en route to Fuerte Tiuna.

A number of the aircraft came under fire, but managed to continue flying, military leaders said.

"It was significant weapons fire," Trump noted.

A Rapid Ground Assault

Once on the ground, forces from an elite special operations unit, sprang into action.

They gained access the facility just after 2 AM Caracas time, and the Maduros surrendered without resistance, according to accounts.

But, further information emerged. They tried to escape into a safe place, described as a military "fortress".

The secure room is all steel, and he wasn't able to get inside as our personnel were so fast.

"It was an extremely heavy entryway, a very heavy door," the President informed the media. "He made it to the door. He was unable to shut it."

However, even assuming they had managed to get into the bunker, forces could have breached it in approximately "47 seconds".

From the Capital to Manhattan

Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved some 3,400 kilometers, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air out of Caracas via chopper, and transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, a naval vessel positioned in the Caribbean. The team was back in international waters before 4:30 AM.

Aboard the vessel that one of the defining pictures of the whole operation emerged - Maduro in handcuffs, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold that looked like opaque glasses.

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

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

Facing Justice on US Territory

On Saturday, footage was released showing Maduro inside the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) main office in New York.

The couple are presently detained in a detention centre within the city.

They face charges including planning narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of automatic weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to acquire such weapons and bombs against the US.

They are set to encounter the full wrath of American justice in the United States within US courtrooms," the Attorney General proclaimed.

Video shows Maduro's arrival in US and transport to detention.