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FBI seizes drones near SoFi Stadium and the Coliseum during the World Cup
A view of L.A. Stadium before the FIFA World Cup match between USA and Paraguay begins.
(
Omar Vega
/
Getty Images
)
The FBI seized about 15 drones near SoFi Stadium and L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Friday and Saturday for violating temporary flight restrictions, Amir Ehsaei, special agent in charge of counterterrorism and crisis response at the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, told LAist. Multiple operators were cited.
Stadiums hosting World Cup games and official fan festival venues are designated as "No Drone Zones" by the Federal Aviation Administration on match days.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drones violating the temporary flight restrictions," Ehsaei said.
One of the drones seized near SoFi Stadium on Friday.
(
Courtesy FBI Los Angeles
)
One of the drones seized Friday at SoFi Stadium.
(
Courtesy FBI
)
He said drone detection teams are deployed at all SoFi games. "We will be out at other places depending on the nature — the size, the scope — [and] different intelligence that we'll get based on threat assessments."
Drones are prohibited at SoFi within a three-nautical-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet above ground level. They are also banned at the Coliseum for the official fan festival within a one-nautical-mile radius and up to 1,000 feet above ground level.
Violators could face fines of up to $100,000 and federal criminal charges.
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