Officials tout Super Bowl plans to crimp counterfeiting, ground drones, curb human trafficking

Amid warnings about counterfeit items, human trafficking and unlawful drones on the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, federal, state and native safety officers stated Monday they’re making ready for a busy week within the air, at airports, at Allegiant Stadium and in merchandise outlets as crowds arrive for the NFL championship sport.

Representatives from companies together with Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration — accompanied by a bomb-sniffing beagle named Ozzie — briefed the media at Harry Reid International Airport about their plans to counter such criminality.

The officers displayed a desk piled excessive with knockoff sports activities memorabilia together with jerseys, T-shirts, caps, beanies and a glowing silver reproduction of the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy.

“The merchandise you see on display today is nothing compared to the millions of fake goods that criminals will try to sell online, on the street and through other unauthorized sources,” stated Cheryl Davies, lead Super Bowl area coordinator for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “Our message is clear: Don’t buy this stuff.”

“We have collectively surged resources in the months leading up to the Super Bowl to identify and target individuals illegally importing counterfeit goods into the United States,” stated Christopher Miller, Homeland Security Investigations agent in cost in Las Vegas.

Investigators seized practically $1 million value of counterfeit merchandise from 4 places simply over the last weekend, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford stated after the briefing. He declined to offer particulars, saying investigations have been persevering with.

The air round Allegiant Stadium subsequent Sunday has been designated by the Federal Aviation Administration as a “no drone zone.” Takeover alerts and jammers can be used if needed, stated Karen Burke, TSA Nevada safety director.

Commercial air operations at close by Harry Reid Airport will not be anticipated to be affected. But Davies stated customs company Blackhawk and A-star helicopters can be aloft to guard airspace and implement no-fly zones.

Ralph Lepore, an airport administrator with the Clark County Department of Aviation, targeted on efforts to stem human trafficking, which he stated was neither new nor unique to huge occasions.

“We’re reminding all our employees, partners and guests to be alert and act if they see something suspicious,” he stated. “It’s extremely important.”

Burke famous that TSA officers have been skilled to identify human trafficking and that additional brokers can be added to deal with report post-game crowds anticipated to high greater than 100,000 passengers a day early subsequent week at Harry Reid airport. She promised that each lane of each airport safety checkpoint can be open nonstop for 48 hours after the Super Bowl ends.

Ken Ritter, The Associated Press