FBI Dallas said 18 drones violated temporary flight restrictions over Dallas Stadium and Fan Fest during the World Cup’s opening weekend.

Federal authorities have also filed a charge against a North Texas drone operator after investigators say he flew within restricted airspace near Dallas Stadium during the FIFA World Cup opening weekend.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by NBC 5, less than 30 minutes before the Netherlands vs. Japan match on Sunday, a Federal Air Marshal assigned to an FBI task force conducting drone counter-surveillance at Dallas Stadium was notified of a drone operating within temporary flight restriction airspace.

The officer located and contacted the pilot, identified as 33-year-old Luis Mauricio Flores Ordonez.

Federal investigators say Flores was operating the drone about two miles from Dallas Stadium, within the three-mile radius of the temporary flight restriction issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators said the model of drone Flores was operating includes a feature that alerts users when they are in restricted airspace. Investigators said Flores would have had to acknowledge that alert before operating the drone.

Investigators also said the drone was not registered. Flores now faces a federal charge for allegedly owning and willfully operating an unregistered drone.

The charge comes weeks after United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould publicly warned drone operators about flying near World Cup no-fly zones.

Raybould issued a direct warning to anyone considering violating the restrictions:”If you fly a drone over Dallas Stadium during the World Cup games, we will make swift use of our federal statutes to charge you.”

Raybould said law enforcement officials must treat every unauthorized drone as a potential threat.

“If you could put yourself in the shoes of law enforcement, we don’t know what payload is on that,” said Raybould. “As we look at the drone, we don’t know what the motive is, but these men and women out here and up here have to interdict that.”

A second drone-related case has also surfaced in Houston. The Texas Department of Public Safety said a drone operator there ignored FAA regulations and FIFA World Cup temporary flight restrictions. That operator also faces federal charges.

Statistics released by FBI Field Offices across the country show more than 100 drones have been seized for violating flight restrictions around FIFA World Cup venues or events. Here’s a list of numbers from cities as of June 16:

LOS ANGELES:  At least 28 UAV (drone) seizures and 29 citations as of 6-17-26 around Los Angeles Stadium or other World Cup events per Los Angeles FBI Field Office.

SAN FRANCISCO: Seeking official number.

SEATTLE: At least 5 drones seized from operators who violated flight restrictions around Seattle Stadium or World Cup events, per FBI Seattle field office.

ATLANTA: At least 21 drones seized from operators at/near World Cup events, per FBI Seattle Field Office.

DALLAS: At least 18 drones seized from operators at/near World Cup events, per FBI Dallas Field Office.

HOUSTON: At least 12 drones seized from operators at/near World Cup events, per FBI Houston Field Office.

KANSAS CITY: Seeking official number.

MIAMI: At least 28 drones seized and 25 operators ticked around World Cup venues, per Miami Field Office.

NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY: No Official Number Released.

Not all FBI field offices, including New York and San Francisco have released numbers and not all are updated as first round games continue to be played, NBC Investigations said.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.