A huge police crackdown – called Operation Red Card – aimed at protecting England fans at the World Cup has been called an “extraordinary success”.
Almost 300 illegal guns and huge amounts of drugs have been taken off the streets in towns and cities around the venue for England’s first game in Texas next month. Police chiefs said more than 1,300 people have been arrested in the huge operation ahead of England v Croatia in Dallas on June 18.
Northern District of Texas, US Attorney Ryan Raybould described those arrested as “some of the worst of the worst”. He said: “This operation has been about preparing for the FIFA World Cup and cleaning up our streets. It is evident that this operation has been an extraordinary success leading up to the FIFA World Cup. We’re ready to protect and serve, and there is no one who will work harder to put you behind bars than this group up here.”
View 4 ImagesThomas Tuchel’s England bid for World Cup glory starts in Dallas(Image: NEIL HALL/EPA/Shutterstock)
He added his message was: “Come to North Texas and commit a crime if you dare.” Up to 15,000 Three Lions fans will flood into the Dallas area for the match to roar on Thomas Tuchel’s men as they bid for glory. The stadium in Arlington is hosting nine games during the tournament – more than any other venue.
Police said 800 kilos of methamphetamine, 50 kilos of cocaine and 20 kilos of fentanyl were seized alongside 280 firearms and £4m cash. Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux praised the co-ordination between local and federal agencies.
He said: “Right here, this is what right looks like. Us, working together to keep everyone safe in Dallas. I love working with my federal partners and U.S. Attorney’s Office for us to continue to keep everyone safe in Dallas.”
Comeaux said fugitive operations tied to the US Marshals Task Force have led to more than 1,300 arrests involving felony warrants.
View 4 ImagesWorkers near AT&T Stadium, which will be named Dallas Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as preparations continue at the venue ahead of the tournament(Image: AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
“We’re over 1,300 arrests of individuals that don’t belong on the streets because of felony warrants,” he said. Raybould addressed questions about balancing heightened security with maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.
He said: “They are vigorously enforcing the law but they’re also great men and women that are representatives of the institution that they represent, and they do ton of outreach events, they do reentry events. So that’s their job. I expect that to continue.”
View 4 Images‘Operation Red Card’ makes huge move to keep Three Lions fans safe(Image: Getty Images)
Jake Holmes, US attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, also addressed immigration enforcement and drug trafficking investigations.
He said: “Tackling illegal immigration and tackling drug trafficking are really one in the same fight. Multiple drug houses, based on intelligence we received, revealed that networks of people in the United States are leveraging their connection back in their home countries.”
Joseph Rothrock, FBI special agent in charge, said officials used security planning from previous Super Bowls as a reference point for the World Cup, though he noted the scale of the tournament is much larger.
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“Here in Dallas, that’ll be more matches than any other host city in the United States,” Rothrock said. “As far as comparing this World Cup to previous World Cups, it really doesn’t compare. It’s the first time that we’ve seen the World Cup hosted in three different countries.”