Over 600 drones near FIFA World Cup venues and fan zones have been seized since the tournament began last month, the Transportation Security Administration said Monday.
On match days, all aircraft operations, including drones, are prohibited within a radius of 3 nautical miles and up to 3,000 feet above ground level around the stadiums unless specifically authorized by air traffic controllers.
The FBI said drones have been seized from restricted airspace across all 11 U.S. host cities. Law enforcement said 130 drones were seized in Miami and over 70 in Dallas during five matches.
According to KSHB, 77 drones were seized in Atlanta, 48 in Los Angeles, 29 in Seattle, 40 in New York, 33 in Houston, and 32 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Federal Aviation Administration previously barred drones from flying over matches and related fan gatherings across the United States.
At fan gatherings, drones are barred within a 1-nautical-mile radius and up to 1,000 feet above ground level.
Drone operators who violate the rules can face fines. Those who enter restricted airspace without approval can be fined $100,000, the FBI said.
Violators could also face criminal charges and confiscation of their drone, the FBI said.
As part of its security, the FBI has teams stationed around World Cup stadiums to detect and disable unauthorized drones.
Cristobal Torres Alvarez, a 40-year-old native of Mexico, was charged last week with flying a drone in restricted airspace around Dallas Stadium before a match.
Last year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to boost U.S. defenses against drones while the Department of Homeland Security installed new counter-drone defense systems along the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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