From within that Venezuelan capital 'fort' to a New York courtroom: Maduro's apprehension through images and maps.

American officials assert their armed forces mission aimed at apprehending the South American nation's leader required months of careful preparation, however the moment Donald Trump issued the command to launch, the mission dubbed "Absolute Resolve" concluded after approximately 150 minutes.

The unexpected pre-dawn assault on Saturday signified a historic event in modern politics and resulted in the detention for Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores de Maduro.

Seized by soldiers belonging to an elite American military force when they tried to flee into a heavily secured panic room, the pair are currently being held in a detention centre within New York City and face drug trafficking and terrorism accusations.

The Early Morning Assault on the Military Complex

At sunrise on Saturday, the scale of the armed intervention in Caracas, the nation's capital, was clear.

Images of Fuerte Tiuna, a massive army installation in which top government officials reside, show destroyed structures as well as charred, smouldering cars.

The location was this facility that Maduro and his wife were captured, Venezuelan ruling party leader a party official stated.

Just Moments Before - The President Gives the Order

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

The US disabled electricity across the capital, Trump later described, describing it as pitch black and dangerous.

The aim was to neutralize the nation's air defense systems and open up the way for US military helicopters to get to the target.

"We assessed that we successfully kept totally the advantage of surprise," the top general commented.

Strike locations encompassed the compound, a port and an airfield. Pictures depict the complex engulfed in flames, with huge flames visible from a great distance.

Residents have described the way US military helicopters flew low above the city, en route to the military base.

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

There was a lot of weapons fire," Trump added.

The Rapid On-the-Ground Operation

After landing, forces from the US Army's Delta Force, acted with speed.

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

However, more details emerged. The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, referred to as a military "fortress".

The secure room was constructed of steel, and he wasn't able to make it inside because our guys were too quick.

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

However, even assuming they had managed to enter the safe room, troops could have blown it open in approximately "under a minute."

From Caracas to New York City

Currently under American detention, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were moved approximately 2,100 miles, to Manhattan.

They were taken by air out of Caracas by helicopter, and transferred to a US warship, a warship stationed in the Caribbean. The operation was back in international waters by 04:29.

Aboard the vessel where one of the defining pictures of the whole operation emerged - Maduro shackled, wearing ear protectors and a type of blindfold resembling opaque glasses.

From the USS Iwo Jima, his initial stop was to the US Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.

The Maduros were then flown on a government plane to a military airfield in New York state, before a final helicopter transfer to Manhattan.

Confronting The Legal System in US Territory

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

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

They have been charged including conspiracy to commit drug-related terrorism and cocaine trafficking, owning machine guns and destructive devices, and plots to acquire machine guns and destructive devices against the US.

"They will soon face the complete force of American justice in the United States within US courtrooms," a senior legal official proclaimed.

Video shows Maduro's arrival into American and journey into custody.