ATLANTA — The FBI and Atlanta Police Department are conducting a major security operation targeting unauthorized drones near World Cup venues ahead of the semifinals between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium.

Both agencies have deployed drones to monitor potential threats on the ground and in the air. The FBI is enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration's Temporary Flight Restrictions around the venue to prevent unauthorized drone flights.

Since the World Cup began, the FBI has confiscated over 600 drones nationwide, with Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office Marlo Graham reporting that 86 of those were seized in Atlanta alone. Graham explained that the FBI uses a specialized "mechanism" to detect unauthorized drones in restricted airspace and has successfully landed such drones safely.

Kindu Franklin noted that most individuals caught flying drones near World Cup venues are hobbyists without any harmful intent toward the crowds. Anais Paredes, an Atlanta Police Department drone pilot, added, "We live here, so we know what to expect."

The drone unit has conducted more than 1,400 flights and logged over 550 flight hours since early June, according to Cunningham. Authorities emphasized the importance of proactive measures, citing concerns about the potential weaponization of drones and the risk of disruptions during critical moments in the games.

The closed dome stadium in Atlanta also provides an additional layer of security by limiting exposure to drone threats.

Sources