FBI seizes drones and arrests operator at Atlanta World Cup venue

The FBI’s Counter‑UAV Task Force in Atlanta has arrested drone operator Jorge Rojas‑Martinez after he flew a drone from a parking lot into the temporary flight‑restriction zone surrounding the FIFA World Cup fan festival at Centennial Olympic Park. The arrest follows the seizure of at least 15 drones – the agency says a total of 21 have been confiscated – that entered the no‑fly area around the Mercedes‑Benz Stadium where matches are being held.

Authorities stress that unauthorized drone flights in the restricted airspace pose a serious risk to public safety and can result in fines up to $100,000 and federal criminal charges. FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg warned that the crackdown is part of a broader effort to protect the World Cup’s 78 matches across 11 U.S. cities. Public service announcements and the FAA’s B4UFLY tool have been deployed to inform operators of the no‑drone zones.

The operation underscores coordinated federal, local, and Homeland Security actions to enforce airspace security at a high‑profile international sporting event.