CIA Counterintelligence spies conceal their identities, blend in

 

CIA Team-11 posed as party animals 

Undercover CIA counterintelligence (CI) teams are trained to deny any connection with the U.S. government. They are known for taking extreme risks as part of their work. If caught by a foreign intelligence service, they have no diplomatic immunity to protect them from prosecution under their host country’s laws.

     CI operatives need a cover to conceal their true identities. It can be as simple as just the use of a fake name, but more than often they need to use a legend, a very sophisticated cover. Creating a legend means creating an entire false life and they go to great lengths to ensure there is nothing about them that can arouse suspicion.

  In the MISSION OF VENGEANCE spy thriller, all the counterintelligence team members were NOCs, meaning they used Non-Official Cover. One CI team, Team-11 (above photo), assumed a unique cover. It is explained in this snippet:

“How did team eleven get here so fast?”

“They were right next door, moored off Cap-Haiten, Haiti, a half-day’s sail away. Arrived an hour ago and docked in the Ocean World Adventure Park marina and rented a Land Rover.”

Agent Sweeney sighed. “Don’t get me wrong, sir, I like my assignment as leader of DR-5, but you’ve got to admit that team eleven’s job is the ultimate, one people would die for.”

Corey took swig from a bottle of Santo Domingo Catalina beer that filled half the refrigerator. Morrison liked to keep his agents contented. The slight touch of banana tasted good. “No one would argue with you. They assume the perfect cover, sailing the Caribbean on a fifty-foot yacht while masquerading as spoiled rich kids, scuba diving and partying everywhere they go. Who would imagine they move CBIF’s operational gear, weapons and undercover agents to wherever needed?”

“And to kill when necessary. I heard about the Penumbra Database recovery they assisted you with at the mansion on Abaco.”

Corey took a large gulp of Catalina while considering the bullet scars in his leg and forearm, knife scar in his upper back and scrap of metal in his knee that resulted from fifteen years of service for CBIF. “Well, Abaco’s another story. At times, there’s experiences we’d like to forget.”

“What’s our next move?”

“Contact your DR-5 team and be here at the safe house at 1900 hours. Use the usual security precautions. I’m calling in team eleven, too, and it’s not for a party. See you tonight.”

“Yes, sir.”

     A moment of silence ensued before Corey spoke. “Funny business we’re in, agent Sweeney. In the world of counterintelligence, if you’re too cautious… if you don’t risk anything you end up risking everything.”

     “Is that a go, sir?”

     “Yes, and I want continual updates.”

     “I’ll be leaving in one hour.”   End of snippet

 

In real life, many CI team members are NOCs, and there are no guarantees for them in the spy business. They live a deep-cover life of lies and props. In the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series, Corey feigns being a marine biologist traversing the Caribbean trying to save the Nassau Grouper. ‘Corey Pearson’ is a false name, and he works for a phony front company.

     NOCs don’t use diplomatic cover and what they do can be risky. If they get caught doing something illegal, they have no diplomatic immunity to use for protection from prosecution, and America will deny their existence.

     Lastly, enjoy the video "The FBI Investigates Soviet Deep-Cover Spies in America". It details how, for over a decade, deep-cover Russian spies embedded in America collected intelligence and passed it onto their handlers. The CIA initially uncovered them, then passed the info on to the FBI, who began using counterintelligence techniques to track them. It was known as Operation Ghost Stories:

 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community, and relishes traveling to the Florida Keys and Key West, the Bahamas and Caribbean. He combines both passions in his CoreyPearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thriller: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.