India Arrests 7 Foreigners for Myanmar Training, Drone Smuggling

Indian authorities have arrested seven foreign nationals, including six Ukrainians and one American, on suspicions of illegally crossing into Myanmar to train ethnic armed groups and smuggling drones from Europe for use in the conflict there. The detentions, carried out by the National Investigation Agency, occurred on March 13 in cities including Delhi, Lucknow, and Kolkata, as the individuals attempted to leave the country.

The group entered India on tourist visas and traveled to Mizoram, a northeastern state requiring special permits for foreigners due to its proximity to the border. Investigators allege they bypassed these restrictions, crossed into Myanmar without authorization, and established contact with ethnic armed organizations operating near the India-Myanmar frontier. These groups have historical ties to insurgent outfits in India's northeast, raising concerns about potential cross-border threats. According to officials, the suspects conducted training sessions focused on drone operations, including assembly, handling, and evasion techniques, to support the armed groups' activities.

A significant element of the case involves the alleged transport of a large shipment...