Exclusive look into CIA's elite extraction unit: How they smuggle people to safety

 

CIA extraction team smuggles people out of dangerous countries to the U.S. 

The CIA is well known for its ability to smuggle people out of dangerous situations in unfriendly countries. The spy term for this process is called “Extraction”, and the CIA has an interesting history of exfiltrating people, out of dangerous countries to the US using a variety of methods. The exact method used depends on the specific circumstances of the extraction and the resources available. Some of the methods the CIA may use to exfiltrate people include:

1.   Covert Extraction: The CIA may use a covert extraction method, where the individual being exfiltrated is smuggled out of the country in a covert manner, such as hiding in a vehicle or being disguised as someone else.

2.   Diplomatic Extraction: The CIA may use a diplomatic extraction, where the individual is escorted out of the country by US embassy officials or other diplomatic personnel. This method is typically used when the individual has a valid visa or passport.

3.   Evacuation: The CIA may use an evacuation, where the individual is extracted by a military or private security force in a more overt manner, such as by helicopter or boat. This method is typically used in high-risk situations where covert methods are not viable.

4.   Third-Country Extraction: The CIA may use a third-country extraction, where the individual is extracted to a neighboring country before being transported to the US. This method is typically used when the individual is unable to travel directly to the US.

The extraction process is often done with the help of other agencies and is done with the utmost care for the safety and security of the person being extracted. The CIA also must consider the risk of exposure and the potential impact on the relations with the host country. Yes, geopolitics enters the decision-making process, and I would imagine the U.S. State Department is involved in many extractions.

     It is difficult to provide a definitive list of people who the CIA has exfiltrated out of dangerous countries, as many of these operations are classified and not publicly disclosed by the CIA. However, here are a few examples of people who have been reported to have been exfiltrated by the CIA:

1.   Oleg Penkovsky: A Soviet military intelligence officer who provided the CIA with valuable information about Soviet missile capabilities during the Cold War. He was exfiltrated from the Soviet Union to the United States in 1962.

2.   Farouq Hijazi: A high-ranking member of the Syrian intelligence service who provided information on Syria's chemical weapons program. He was exfiltrated to the United States in 2012.

3.   Dr. Shakil Afridi: A Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA locate Osama bin Laden. He was exfiltrated from Pakistan to the United States in May 2011.

4.   Asaad Almohammad and Amir Touma: two Syrian White Helmet rescuers who were evacuated by the CIA in July 2019, as the Syrian government was closing in on the last rebel-held province of Idlib.

5.   Kim Philby: A British double agent who worked for Soviet intelligence during the Cold War. He was exfiltrated from Beirut, Lebanon in 1963.

It is worth noting that the CIA does not exfiltrate people for personal reasons, but for reasons related to the security of the country and gaining valuable intelligence. 

     In the spy thriller novel MISSION OF VENGEANCE, CIA operative Corey Pearson uses the Covert Extraction method (described above) to exfiltrate a former Russian KGB agent out of the Dominican Republic to the U.S. Here’s a Snippet:

     In a the dimly lit Club 59 nightclub in Sosua, Dominican Republic, CIA operative Corey Pearson was on a mission to gather intel on a former Russian KGB agent named Yuri Bocharov. As he sat at the bar, a man walked past him and sat at a barstool down from him. It was Bocharov!

     The man ordered a Moscow Mule drink and, without hesitation, turned to Corey and announced that he wanted to defect to the United States and share valuable information about the inner workings of Russia’s FSB spy agency.

     Corey was taken aback, but quickly regained his composure and contacted his superiors to arrange for Bocharov’s safe extraction. With the help of his team, they were able to secretly smuggle him out of the country and into the US, where he was granted asylum and began a new life.

     The operation was a success, and Corey Pearson was hailed as a hero in the agency. But for him, the true victory was in giving Bocharov the chance at a better life and gaining valuable insight into the FSB.

End of Snippet

     Ironically, later on in MISSION OF VENGEANCE, Corey shoots a Russian assassin in the bathroom of the Club 59 nightclub. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thrillers: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.