American Fighter Arrested in India Then Released | Matthew VanDyke Libya to Myanmar Story Explained

Matthew VanDyke NIA arrest, American mercenary detained at Kolkata airport, UAPA case dropped after Myanmar drone training allegations — this is the full story of the US filmmaker-turned-fighter who fought Gaddafi in Libya, trained fighters against ISIS, and was stopped in India in March 2026. In 2011, Matthew VanDyke was captured while fighting with rebels against Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. He later returned to the US, gave interviews to The Independent and Vice, and founded Sons of Liberty International (SOLI), a group that trained local forces in Iraq and claimed it could do the job cheaper and faster than governments. Fast forward to 12 March 2026: the same man, now in his mid-40s, was intercepted at Kolkata airport just before boarding a FlyDubai flight to Dubai and then Warsaw. He had entered India on a tourist visa as a filmmaker. Intelligence inputs led to his detention. NIA took custody on 14 March. Six Ukrainian associates were also picked up. The case alleged they travelled via Mizoram into Myanmar’s Chin State and trained ethnic armed groups in drone flying, assembly, and jamming — technology later linked in media reports to attacks, including a drone strike on a Naga village in Manipur’s Kamjong district. FIR was registered under UAPA Section 18 (conspiracy to commit or support a terrorist act). They were sent to Tihar Jail. Custody lasted 24 days. VanDyke even went to court seeking a protein-rich “American-style” diet, a cook, mosquito protection, and an electric kettle, citing Article 21. On 8 September 2026, as the 180-day investigation window closed, NIA filed a chargesheet that dropped UAPA sections and kept only Immigration and Foreigners Act violations (Sections 21 and 23). Default bail followed. Immigration offences were compounded after payment of ₹5.5 lakh. Court allowed one month abroad to meet family, with conditions: stay in touch with NIA, share address and phone, and return to India within the stipulated time and inform the court within 72 hours. NIA said the UAPA probe continues and a supplementary chargesheet is possible. Opposition asked why a case that started with terror charges ended with a fine and travel permission, and whether American pressure played a role. VanDyke has publicly spoken of wanting to work for the CIA or FBI since childhood, failing polygraphs due to anxiety, and fearing a SEAL team rescue while in a Libyan jail. His pattern of appearing in conflict zones where rebels oppose governments aligned against US interests — Libya, Iraq, Ukraine, and allegedly Myanmar — is part of the public record. The legal question that remains is whether training armed groups across the India-Myanmar border, given known links between some of those groups and insurgent activity in India’s Northeast, can still attract UAPA Section 18. This video lays out the timeline, the charges that were added and later dropped, the jail diet controversy, the default bail order, and the unanswered questions NIA and the courts have left open. Watch till the end for the conditions attached to his travel and what happens next if a supplementary chargesheet is filed. #MatthewVanDyke #NIAArrest #UAPA #KolkataAirport #MyanmarDrones #AmericanMercenary #SOLI #Libya2011 #Gaddafi #TiharJail #DefaultBail #ImmigrationAct #ChinState #ManipurDroneAttack #RoosterNews #RahulRoosterNews #IndiaUS #ForeignFighters #TerrorCaseIndia MAA NATURALS FERTILITY WELLNESS CENTRE Head Office Chennai Contact: 7550005857/9043464054 Address: No116, 2nd Floor, Sri Devi Kuppam Main Road, Valasaravakkam, Chennai -600087. ABOUT OUR CHANNEL Independent journalism that speaks truth to power and is free of corporate and political control is possible only when people start contributing towards the same. THE ROOSTER NEWS has been in operation since 15 OCT 2017 and it has been a completely voluntary effort from the beginning till date. Check out our channel here :- @theroosternews Don't forget to subscribe! FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL Get updates or reach out to Get updates on our Social Media Profiles! Twitter: Twitter: therooosternews Facebook: Facebook: theroosternews Instagram: Instagram: theroosternews Join Our Official WhatsApp Channel Link : https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCe... To continue and expand this endeavor, we looking for your support. FREE MEDIA FROM CORPORATE AND POLITICAL PARTIES … DONATE : 6374757882