US national in drone plot; NIA tracking his digital footprint

New Delhi: The American national arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with six others in a failed plot, imparted drone warfare to rebel groups in Myanmar and banned terrorist outfit members in India, ET has learnt. The arrests were made after the Indian security agencies received a tip-off from their Russian counterparts. India and Russia have shared a close security and counter-terror partnership for decades.

The agency is tracing their digital footprint after it was discovered that the group came on tourist visa and went to protected areas of Mizoram and crossed to Myanmar, according to officials. The information disclosed by the accused persons during the NIA investigation revealed that they were in direct touch with and abetted their illegal activities by unknown terrorists carrying AK-47 rifles, officials explained.

The agency arrested three Ukrainians at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi after 11 pm on March 13, 2026, while the first to be arrested was Mathew Arron Van Dyke, the US national, from Kolkata airport at 9 pm on March 13, 2026. Three others were held at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow after 10 pm on March 13.


The agency has refuted claims that there was delay in informing the MEA or the Ukrainian Embassy about the arrests. The competent authority has sent an email communication on March 14, 2026 at 3.58 am through an e-mail and received intimation from Ukraine about the appointment a law firm, they added.

The agency had informed the MEA that the accused person has been charged under UAPA in para 2 (ii) of the notification dated September 21, 2020, "which disclaims, questions, disrupts or is intended to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India." The law was amended in 2020 by the MHA to give wider powers to NIA to probe cases of attacks on India and its interest on foreign soil.

As per the first information report (FIR), seven foreign nationals went to restricted areas in Mizoram, crossed into Myanmar illegally, and got in touch with ethnic armed organisations and some groups banned in India. The accused allegedly trained the armed groups, gave weapons, and helped in drone operations, the FIR noted.

Us national Mathew's social media posts and accounts are under the scanner in close cooperation with US agencies, among others.

Earlier, Ukraine's Ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, met with Ministry of External Affairs officials (Secretary West) on March 17, 2026, to protest the detention and request immediate consular access and release. Ukraine also alleged that the case is politically motivated.