Driver communications... A typical radio transmission between FBI wheel artists goes something like this. "Gamma is flipping. Possible spark or smoke." In plain language, this means "The target vehicle has just made a U-turn. He may have detected us." By using communication codes, the FBI is able to reducel the chances of an eavesdropper figuring out what's going on. Anyone picking up a stry signal is unlikely to realize that it's from a surveillance team. For examples of surveillance team communication codes, return to our home page and click on Surveillance codes. Why you never see them communicating. FBI agents are trained to conceal their voice communications. Often two agents will be riding in one vehicle. In order to disguise a radio transmission, the agent in the passenger seat will turn his/her head toward the driver while transmitting. If you're stopped at a red light ahead of the FBI surveillance vehicle, all you'll see in the rear view mirror is two people who appear to be talking to eachother. During a surveillance operation, FBI agents can use either their body rigs or the vehicle radio sets for transmitting. The body rig includes a standalone, internally mounted ear-piece that is virtually undetectable unless you're looking for it. The effective range of the FBI's standard body rig is much less than their vehicle radio sets. Both the body-rig and the vehicle set offer hands-free operation. CASE STUDY: Hostile situation. When an FBI agent finds herself alone in a congested traffic situation with the target- and perhaps under close visual scrutiny by a suspicous target- she can still transmit criticsl information to the team leader. She simply click her toungein stead of talking. Here's an example. Wheel artist- numerous clicks. Controller- "Is that you, Echo?" Wheel artist- two clicks (Yes) Controller- "Are you in command of the target?" Wheel artist- two clicks (Yes) Controller- "Has the target made contact with the other suspect yet?" Wheel artist- silence (Possible No). Controller- "Is the target not in contact with the suspect?" Wheel artist- Two clicks (Yes) And so it continues, two clicks meaning Yes, silence meaning No. Real-time communication... The FBI has found that agent-to-agent communication in real-time is a vital component of a productive surveillance operation. Real-time communication gives the surveillance team a tactical advantage over the target. The illustration shown below provides a good example of this principle. As the target walks back towards his parked vehicle, the various members of the vehicle surveillance team take up positions in a standard stakeout box. Note how the layup vehicles Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta are facing away from the target's vehicle, ready to pick up the follow and assume command of the target no matter which direction the target takes. Equally important is the trigger vehicle. As shown in the illustration above, one of the ruses the FBI uses is to pull in and park ahead of the target's parked vehicle. This is called a cheating trigger. Being in front of the target, the FBI agent is less likely to attract suspicion, but he is still in a position to cue other members of the surveillance team when the target begins to drive away. This makes for a seamless transition form the foot surveillance team to the vehicle surveillance team. In particlular, the trigger vehicle transmits the start-time, direction of travel, and speed of the target's vehicle to the other members of the surveillance team. The appropriate layup vehicle can smoothly pick up the follow and assume command of the target because he has advance knowlege of the target's direction, etc., thanks to the radio transmission for the FBI agent in the trigger vehicle. The lesson is obvious. Your adversary is the entire surveillance team, not just the FBI agents you happen to spot. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exposing the FBI's secrets: Basic tactics... Cover. Camouflage is an important component of an FBI vehicle surveillance operation. FBI agents drive anything and everything, including sedans, coupes, utility vehicles, vans, trucks, four-wheel drive, minivans, commercial trucks, taxis, motorcycles, and even 18- wheelers. Likewise, the FBI agents themselves come in all shapes and sizes. You'll see many different silhouettes. (Thats spy-talk for the personal appearance of an agent.) When you're under FBI surveillance, you can expect to see singles, couples, families, seniors, disabled, rappers, and so on. Anybody with a pulse might be part of an FBI surveillance team. next page |
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