LAS VEGAS– Amid warnings about counterfeit goods, human trafficking and illegal drones during the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, federal, state and local security officials said Monday they are preparing for a busy week in the skies, at airports, at Allegiant Stadium and in merchandise stores as the crowd arrives for the NFL championship game.
Representatives from agencies including 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 on their plans to combat such illegal activities.
The officials displayed a table full of fake sports memorabilia, including jerseys, T-shirts, caps, hats and a sparkling silver replica of the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy.
“The merchandise you see today is nothing compared to the millions of counterfeit goods that criminals will try to sell online, on the streets and through other unauthorized sources,” said Cheryl Davies, chief Super Bowl field coordinator for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. . “Our message is clear: don’t buy this stuff.”
“We have collectively increased our resources in the months leading up to the Super Bowl to identify and target individuals illegally importing counterfeit goods into the United States,” said Christopher Miller, agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Las Vegas.
Investigators seized nearly $1 million worth of counterfeit goods at four locations over the weekend, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford said after the briefing. He did not want to provide details because the investigation was still ongoing.
The skies around Allegiant Stadium this Sunday have been designated a “no drone zone” by the Federal Aviation Administration. Takeover signals and jammers will be used if necessary, said Karen Burke, TSA Nevada security director.
Commercial aviation operations at nearby Harry Reid Airport are not expected to be affected. But Davies said Customs Agency Blackhawk and A-star helicopters will be in the air to protect the airspace and enforce no-fly zones.
Ralph Lepore, an airport administrator with the Clark County Department of Aviation, focused on efforts to combat human trafficking, which he said was neither new nor exclusive to large events.
“We remind all our employees, partners and guests to be alert and take action if they see anything suspicious,” he said. “It’s extremely important.”
Burke noted that TSA officers are trained to detect human trafficking and that additional officers will be added to handle record numbers of visitors after the game. More than 100,000 passengers a day are expected to arrive at Harry Reid Airport early next week. She promised that every lane of every airport security checkpoint will be open nonstop for 48 hours after the Super Bowl ends.