Secrets and Subterfuge: How the MISSION OF VENGEANCE Spy Triller Spotlights the Challenges of Covert Travel for CIA Operatives

 

CIA Operatives Struggle to Stay Undetected when traveling

In today's world, traveling undercover as a CIA operative is a complex undertaking. In my spy thriller novel, MISSION OF VENGEANCE, CIA spymaster Corey Pearson faced multiple challenges as he embarked on his mission using a new identity. The CIA uses various modes of transportation, including commercial, military, or private planes, depending on the situation. However, in the opening scene, Corey opted for a private plane to avoid major airports, TSA screenings, CCTV cameras, and similar security measures.

     As Corey received a new identity for this mission, the CIA wanted to sever all ties to his previous assignments due to the sensitive nature of the operation. He was given a freshly forged passport, driver's license, credit cards, and bank account. However, not using his previous false identity brought up new challenges due to the interconnected digital world. All the information related to Corey's previous fake passport was linked to a newer biometric one that had a microchip embedded in it, storing his facial recognition, fingerprint, and iris-scan data.

     The increasing use of biometric technology has made it challenging for CIA operatives to travel undetected. Biometric scanners are now commonplace in airports, and they can quickly reveal an operative's true identity. For instance, in 2018, a woman named Yeweinisht Mesfin was attempting to board a flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia using a fraudulent Ghanaian passport. When she presented the passport to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, the biometric facial recognition technology flagged the passport as fraudulent.

     However, biometrics are not foolproof. In 2018, when a woman named Yujing Zhang was arrested at President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, carrying multiple electronic devices and a thumb drive containing malware, Zhang had flown from China to the US and had passed through multiple security checkpoints, including biometric scanners, without issue. It was ultimately a human security officer who became suspicious of Zhang's behavior and raised the alarm, leading to her arrest.

     The Zhang incident highlights the limitations of relying solely on technology for security purposes and emphasizes the importance of human intuition and observation in identifying potential threats. CIA operatives face detection by authorities trained to identify suspicious behavior.

     Security personnel at foreign airports receive thorough training in spotting suspicious behaviors, and go through similar training that U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees go through. All TSA agents are trained to spot even mildly irregular behaviors at airports through a program called "Behavior Detection and Analysis" (BDA). The BDA program trains them to observe passengers' behaviors and body language for signs of potential threats to aviation security.

     The training includes techniques for detecting unusual behaviors and indicators of possible criminal or terrorist activities: nerviness, avoiding eye contact, appearing overly alert or nervous, and wearing clothing that is inappropriate for the weather or for the purpose of travel. TSA officers also look for physical signs of potential threats, such as carrying suspicious items or displaying unusual behaviors while carrying luggage.

     One example of a TSA officer catching a person using this training occurred in 2017 at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia, USA. A TSA officer noticed a man acting suspiciously while going through the security checkpoint. The man had a large bulge in his pants that appeared to be an abnormal shape for a body part.

     The officer alerted a supervisor, who conducted a pat-down search of the man and found that he was carrying a loaded handgun in his waistband. The local police were called in, and an investigation revealed that he had a criminal history and was not allowed to possess a firearm.

     Little wonder why undercover CIA operatives find traveling to be difficult! The world of espionage is constantly evolving, and the challenges they face continue to grow with the advancement of technology and security measures. As demonstrated in MISSION OF VENGEANCE, the ability to adapt to these challenges is paramount for CIA operatives, for they must stay ahead of the game to operate covertly and undetected. The future of espionage is unpredictable, but one thing is certain: the world of intelligence and counterintelligence will continue to be as fascinating as it is complex. 

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.