The United States' overnight assault on Venezuela and the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are being sold as an anti-drug mission and a law enforcement action.

The US strike in Venezuela has triggered a crisis with potentially global consequences

A US government plane carrying Maduro landed at a military base shortly after nightfall, and he was transported by helicopter to New York City

In a brief phone interview with The New York Times, Trump hailed the 'brilliant' operation

*Explosions heard in Venezuela's capital *Maduro declares state of emergency

Since September last year, the Trump administration has taken a hard line against Venezuela.