US authorities have hailed 'Operation Red Card' as an extraordinary success after seizing nearly 300 illegal firearms and arresting more than 1,300 people ahead of the World Cup. The crackdown was aimed at protecting England fans travelling to Dallas for the Three Lions' opening match against Croatia on June 18.
Police seized 280 guns, 800 kilos of methamphetamine, 50 kilos of cocaine, 20 kilos of fentanyl, and £4 million in cash. Northern District of Texas US Attorney Ryan Raybould described those arrested as 'some of the worst of the worst' and warned: 'Come to North Texas and commit a crime if you dare.'
Up to 15,000 England fans are expected to flood into the Dallas area for the match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which will host nine World Cup games. Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux praised coordination between local and federal agencies, saying: 'Right here, this is what right looks like. Us, working together to keep everyone safe in Dallas.'
Fugitive operations tied to the US Marshals Task Force led to over 1,300 arrests involving felony warrants. FBI special agent Joseph Rothrock said officials used security planning from previous Super Bowls as a reference, but noted the World Cup's scale is much larger, especially as it is the first time the tournament is hosted across three countries.
