By Brown Nongmaithem
Indian Observer Post

NEW DELHI, MARCH 18, 2026 (10:30 PM IST): In a major investigation that has triggered diplomatic ripples across continents, a Delhi court has remanded seven foreign nationals—including a US citizen described as a mercenary and six Ukrainian nationals—to 11 days of custody with the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The accused face serious charges of conspiring against India's national security by illegally entering restricted zones, training ethnic insurgent groups in Myanmar, and smuggling a "huge consignment" of drones from Europe to fuel terrorist activities.

Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma at Patiala House Court, conducting the hearing in a closed courtroom, passed the order on Monday, March 16. While the NIA had sought an initial 15-day custody to unearth the larger conspiracy, the court granted custody until March 27, rejecting preliminary objections from the defense regarding the legality of the arrests.

The Accused and the Arrest

The seven individuals were apprehended on March 13, 2026, in a meticulously coordinated operation across three international airports.

The accused have been identified as:

· The US Citizen: Matthew Aaron Van Dyke (arrested from Kolkata airport).

· The Ukrainian Nationals:

  · Delhi Arrests: Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi.

  · Lucknow Arrests: Stefaniv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim, Kaminskyi Viktor .

The NIA Allegations: A Web of Insurgency and Drones

According to court documents and NIA submissions, the accused entered India on valid tourist visas but subsequently engaged in activities that threatened India's sovereignty.

Illegal Entry and Training of Insurgents:

The agency alleged that the group travelled to Guwahati and then proceeded to Mizoram, a protected area, without obtaining the mandatory Restricted Area Permit (RAP) or Protected Area Permit (PAP). From there, they illegally crossed the porous border into Myanmar. It is alleged that their objective was to conduct "pre-scheduled training for Myanmar-based Ethnic Armed Groups (EAGs)" in the fields of drone warfare, drone operations, assembly, and jamming technology.

The "Mercenary" Link: Matthew Van Dyke

The investigation has brought focus onto Matthew Van Dyke, a US citizen from Baltimore. According to his profile, Van Dyke claims to be a veteran of the Libyan revolution and the founder of Sons of Liberty International (SOLI), a military contracting firm described as a "non-profit" providing training to communities fighting terrorism. The NIA alleges that Van Dyke and the Ukrainian nationals admitted during questioning that they conducted training for these EAGs on multiple occasions.

The European Drone Conspiracy:

In a significant security concern, the NIA told the court that the group was involved in "illegally importing huge consignments of drones from Europe to Myanmar via India" for use by these armed groups. The reports claimed these EAGs are known to support proscribed Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) by supplying weapons and terrorist hardware.

Hunt for Accomplices:

The investigation is far from over. The NIA informed the court that the six arrested Ukrainians were part of a larger network of 14 Ukrainian nationals who had entered India. A hunt is currently underway for the remaining eight associates who are still at large.

Court Observations: National Security at Stake

The defense counsel, led by Senior Advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey, challenged the arrest, citing a lack of procedural safeguards and a violation of consular access under the Vienna Convention. They also argued that the FIR did not explicitly mention illegal acts against India.

However, Judge Sharma rejected these arguments, observing that the FIR "definitely affect(s) national security and interests of India" and that the matter could not be treated as routine. The court noted that the grounds of arrest were duly communicated in English and the accused's vernacular languages and that the Ministry of External Affairs had been informed.

The judge further remarked that "criminal conspiracies are hatched in secrecy and not in broad daylight," necessitating custodial interrogation to unearth the larger conspiracy, identify accomplices, trace funding sources, and analyze digital evidence from seized mobile phones, which have been sent to CERT-In for analysis.

Diplomatic Storm: Ukraine Protests, US Responds

The arrests have led to immediate diplomatic reactions.

Ukraine has lodged a strong protest with the Indian government. Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk met with Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sibi George, and handed over an official note demanding the immediate release of its citizens and unimpeded consular access.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that its embassy did not receive any official notification from Indian authorities regarding the detention, calling it a departure from established international practice. While acknowledging that legal aid was provided, Ukraine stressed that its representatives were denied direct communication with the detainees during the court hearing.

US Response:

A US Embassy spokesperson maintained a cautious stance, stating, "We are aware of the situation. For privacy reasons, we cannot comment on cases involving U.S. citizens".

The Bigger Picture: Narco-Terror and the Golden Triangle

This case has also reignited focus on the vulnerability of India's Northeast. The accused allegedly utilized the Mizoram-Myanmar border corridor, a region long associated with the drug trade of the Golden Triangle. Security analysts point out that ethnic armed groups in Myanmar often finance their operations through the narcotics trade, and the influx of European drones marks a significant escalation in their tactical capabilities. With Myanmar overtaking Afghanistan as the world's largest illicit opium producer in recent years, the nexus between drugs, arms, and insurgency poses a growing threat to national security.

The seven accused are scheduled to appear in court next on March 27. The NIA is racing against time to interrogate the accused and trace the international funding and supply chains that brought advanced drone technology to India's doorstep via a conflict zone.

Image Courtesy _ Manipur Social Media ? NIA File Photo