In a major counter-terror operation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested seven foreign nationals — six from Ukraine and one from the United States — over alleged involvement in a cross-border network linked to insurgent activities in India’s Northeast and neighbouring Myanmar.
The American national has been identified as Matthew Aaron VanDyke, while the six Ukrainian nationals arrested are Petro Hurba, Taras Slyviak, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Marian Stefankiv, Maksim Honcharuk, and Viktor Kaminskyi. The arrests were carried out on March 13 across multiple locations — VanDyke was detained at Kolkata airport, while the Ukrainian nationals were apprehended at airports in Delhi and Lucknow.
Following their arrest, all seven were produced before a Special NIA Court at Patiala House in Delhi, which remanded them to 11 days of custody under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
According to the NIA’s investigation, the group had entered India on tourist visas but later travelled to Mizoram without obtaining the mandatory Restricted Area Permit (RAP) required for foreign nationals to access sensitive border regions. From there, they allegedly crossed illegally into Myanmar.
Authorities have alleged that the group established contact with ethnic armed groups operating in Myanmar, which are believed to have links with insurgent organisations active in India’s northeastern states. The agency claims that the accused were involved in or planning training activities in coordination with these groups.
The NIA has further alleged that the group intended to train militants and facilitate the supply of weapons, including advanced drone systems sourced from Europe. Investigators believe that the training modules may have included drone warfare techniques, operational deployment, assembly, and countermeasures such as jamming technologies.
The case has raised concerns about the use of cross-border regions as potential hubs for insurgent training and the involvement of foreign nationals in such activities. Movement across the India–Myanmar border is particularly sensitive due to the presence of multiple insurgent groups operating on both sides.
Matthew VanDyke, the most prominent among those arrested, has a long history of involvement in international conflict zones. He first came into public attention during the 2011 Libyan Civil War, where he joined rebel forces fighting against Muammar Gaddafi. Over the years, he has also been associated with conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine.
VanDyke is known as the founder of Sons of Liberty International (SOLI), an organisation that provides training and support to groups engaged in armed conflicts. He has reportedly trained Ukrainian fighters during the ongoing war with Russia and has been involved in developing counter-drone technologies.
Officials said that the investigation is still ongoing and that further details are being examined to determine the full scope of the alleged network, including possible links to insurgent groups and the intended use of weapons and technology. The case is being closely monitored due to its potential implications for national security and regional stability.
