FBI Seizes Nearly 100 Illegal Drones at World Cup Events

WHO:

WFAA - The FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are involved in the enforcement actions.

CBS News - Patrick Grandy is the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office.

WHAT:

ABC7 Los Angeles - The drones seized in Los Angeles ranged in value from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.

CBS News - None of the drones seized in Los Angeles were weaponized, according to the FBI.

CBS News - The FBI stated that careless operation of a drone can impede helicopter operations, referencing an incident where a drone struck a LAPD helicopter.

WFAA - Nearly 100 unauthorized drones were seized during the FIFA World Cup in North Texas.

WFAA - The DOJ reported that 94 unauthorized drones were seized, and three operators were charged.

ABC7 Los Angeles - The FBI seized 59 drones in Los Angeles during the World Cup.

CBS News - A total of more than 700 drones were seized across the United States during the World Cup.

WHERE:

WFAA - The seizures occurred in North Texas during the FIFA World Cup.

ABC7 Los Angeles - The drones were seized in Los Angeles, specifically around SoFi Stadium, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and other FIFA fan zones.

WHEN:

ABC7 Los Angeles - The Super Bowl is scheduled to take place at SoFi Stadium in February 2027.

ABC7 Los Angeles - The Summer Olympics in Los Angeles is scheduled to take place in 2028.

ABC7 Los Angeles - The drones were seized during the 39 days of the World Cup.

CBS News - The Super Bowl is scheduled to take place at SoFi Stadium in February.

WHY:

Washington Technology - The Department of Homeland Security stated that 12 of its constituent agencies were involved in the security efforts for the World Cup, which included inspecting vehicles and making arrests on human trafficking charges.

ABC7 Los Angeles - The drones were operating illegally in restricted airspace tied to World Cup events.

CBS News - The FBI is concerned about the potential threat of weaponized drones, as seen in incidents overseas.

HOW:

Washington Technology - The Center for Internet Security collaborated with FIFA at its security operations center to monitor and mitigate threats during the World Cup.

ABC7 Los Angeles - The FBI used their own drones to track down illegal drone operators during World Cup events.

ABC7 Los Angeles - Agents were able to quickly locate pilots on the ground, who were cited and required to surrender their drones.

CBS News - The FBI emphasized that Temporary Flight Restrictions will always be enforced, with penalties ranging from $100 to $100,000 and potential prison time for violations.

In Los Angeles, the FBI has seized a number of drones valued from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, confirming that none of them were weaponized. They also highlighted the dangers of careless drone operation, referencing an incident where a drone collided with a LAPD helicopter. Meanwhile, the Super Bowl is set to take place at SoFi Stadium in February 2027, and the Summer Olympics will follow in 2028, with the Department of Homeland Security already preparing security measures for these major events.