A Guide to Covert Surveillance

Out of all the various forms of collection methods available to intelligence analysts, HUMINT occupies a special place of reverence and value. By chance, it also may well be the hardest of all the collection methods to master. It takes a particular kind of individual to foster the skills and grit necessary to effectively run HUMINT operations. There are various costumes which HUMINT assumes, but a somewhat overlooked aspect of the discipline is that of covert surveillance. The ability to move unseen, to blend into the background of any environment, to follow and observe a target across multiple days and maintain the integrity of an investigation or operation is an exceedingly difficult task. Anyone who has practised this method of intelligence gathering can attest to that fact. 

1. What is Covert Surveillance?

The art of covert surveillance is first and foremost an art form. It is by no means a science which can be reduced to strict and obtuse standard procedures. It is a task for which one must already be in possession of the requisite qualities in order to be successful. It cannot be taught in a classroom. Nevertheless, a brief glimpse of its overview can still be communicated to those who might consider making a career out of it. The purpose of this article is to standardize general practices and methods that have the highest degree of success in the field.

2. Why Covert Surveillance?

There are any number of reasons why a government agency, private entity or individual may elect to conduct covert surveillance on a target individual or location. These reasons can be broadly split into several categories.

• Obtain critical information about the daily activities, habits and patterns of an individual including known associates, frequented locations, dishonest or illegal practices and physical capabilities. 

• Establish the activity patterns of a target location such as frequent visitors, the purpose of visits, type of vehicles, duration of visits, suspicious behaviours or activities, and presence of target individuals. 

• Follow a secondary individual to the primary target of surveillance or an unknown address potentially occupied by a surveillance target. 

There is a unifying theme which unites all the various reasons why anyone would covertly surveil an individual or location. The purpose of covert surveillance is to allow the target to act in a manner which they might otherwise elect to obscure if they knew someone was watching them. By encouraging their presumption of privacy or anonymity, the target of surveillance will reveal behaviours or patterns which could implicate them in a crime or act of dishonesty.

Consider for a moment the following real-world example:

On 11 March, two Mercyhurst University hockey and lacrosse players were captured on CCTV at Sullivan’s Irish Pub and Eatery in Erie, Pennsylvania pushing an unoccupied wheelchair down a flight of stairs. While the owner of the chair was in the restroom, Carson Briere and Patrick Carrozzi sat on and appeared to jostle the wheelchair. As Briere stood up, he casually pushed the chair down the flight of stairs where it sustained damage to its brakes and broke one of the armrests [source].

Video of the incident was widely circulated online. Briere and Carrozzi were suspended by Mercyhurst. Erie police charged the two with misdemeanour criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and conspiracy to commit criminal mischief. Both issued apologies and Briere’s father, an NHL team manager and former player, issued a statement condemning his son’s actions [source]. 

This incident precisely illustrates the point about the public and private persona we show to the world. It is very unlikely that these two men would have done what they did if they knew there was a security camera hovering overhead. Even without video surveillance, It is very unlikely that either men would have chosen to touch much less damage a disabled person’s wheelchair if they were surrounded by peers or strangers. If anyone ever asked these two men if they respected the plight of disabled people, they would have obviously answered that they did. 

3. How to Conduct Covert Surveillance:

In light of the example we just examined, the overarching principle of covert surveillance can be reduced down to the following: remain unseen. This is the essential criterion of the practice of any investigatory effort. 

3.1 Stay Hidden:

This directive does not necessarily mean that the target of your investigation should never catch a glimpse of your face, vehicle or otherwise. It means that the target cannot be made aware that they are under surveillance or that their actions are being observed and recorded. This serves 3 main purposes:

• Remaining undetected allows one to maintain the integrity of an investigation across multiple days, months or even years. Once a target is aware of its tail, regaining the advantage of oblivious ignorance is nearly impossible.

• By ensuring the target is oblivious, we make the job of other, future surveillance teams much easier. 

• Preserving a covert advantage allows for a high degree of latitude in decision-making and risk-taking in the course of surveillance efforts. Stated otherwise, it’s better to walk on solid ground than it is to walk on eggshells. 

3.2 Be Flexible:

Additionally, surveillance efforts and tactics must be flexible. This principle is, ironically, the only inflexible rule which must be applied. Boxing oneself into a strategy will not serve anyone well. One simply cannot predict every variable and factor or how a situation will evolve over time. In this field, Murphy’s Law is not a rule but a warning:

“Anything that can go wrong, will”.

In truth, Edward Murphy never really intended for his famous adage to be interpreted in the way it so often is. The general theme of that quote has been expressed by numerous philosophers and scientists for centuries [source]. Nevertheless, the point is made and apparent. One should expect and plan for failure and be pleasantly surprised with success. There is no use with a plan A if you’re not willing to utilize the other 26 letters of the alphabet to the best of your advantage. 

3.3 Remain Critical:

Even if all goes well, one should always be seeking out ways to improve, soliciting advice from peers, analyzing success and remaining especially aware of failures. You must be your own worst and best critic. Figuring out what works and what does not will help in fostering that sense of operational flexibility. By analyzing what went right, we can reinforce best practices. By analyzing what went wrong, we can avoid the conditions which led to our failures. There is no such thing as overpreparation or over-analysis. 

4. Tips and Tricks for Covert Surveillance

The actual practice of covert surveillance is not as neat and simple as a tripartite series of principles would suggest. Broadly speaking, surveillance efforts can be split into two major categories: vehicular and foot surveillance. Thinking of the art of surveillance from the perspective of a mobile/stationary dichotomy is perhaps a less than useful way to think about the practice. One can be mobile on foot in as much as you can be stationary in a vehicle. We will divide and explore these two major dimensions and then examine proven and tested practices with a series of examples. But before all of that, there is a major first step in any surveillance effort: preparation.

4.1 Going Out Prepared:

Flying by the seat of your pants will result in failure. There is no way anyone, no matter how capable or experienced they may be, can waltz through a surveillance job without some basic degree of pre-case preparation. Everyone’s process is different, but there are 3 elements to successful preparation which hold true for any case:

• Subject research will involve a thorough search of the subject’s social media presence. Pay attention to the places they frequent, if they indicate any hobbies or if they regularly attend sports practice, religious worship or perhaps their favourite bar. Do they regularly meet with their friends, and if so, who are they, where do they live and what car might they drive? If the target has posted a picture of themselves near or in front of any vehicles, note down the plates, and if possible, run those plates if financially viable. If no current photos can be gathered, note down the target’s age and ethnicity, height and weight. This information is typically already provided to the operator by a team of research analysts who will be assisting the surveillance team.

• Surveillance research is collecting information on what it will actually take to successfully conduct an investigation in that particular environment. Terrain, the urban layout, traffic patterns and even weather are all taken into consideration.

A highly important part of this preparation is looking at small, little details which are visible through open-source data. For example, the following picture below appears like a normal street view in a residential neighbourhood.

When we are setting up for surveillance in a suburban environment, it is crucial to preempt the movements of the target. In doing so, we can prepare for the target’s behaviour and reduce the possibility of us losing them when they move from location to location. When the street spills out in 2 directions, the question is, which way is the subject most likely to go when leaving their house? We can look at the street and see the gradual wear and tear visible on the road. The wear and tear indicate that most people turn left.

Safe Assumptions:

If we take a look at the whole map as well, it is very likely that, upon turning left, we can access major roadways which lead to shopping or commercial areas in the city. During the course of a person’s normal daily life, the likelihood of them leaving their house to drive around aimlessly is a lot lower than them going out for shopping, food or meeting a friend or family. It is small details like this which allow us to preempt the activities of our surveillance targets.

4.2 Foot Surveillance:

Foot surveillance is any surveillance effort conducted without the benefit of vehicles. It typically falls into a smaller geographical scope than vehicular surveillance for the obvious reason that we are constrained by the breadth of our physical capabilities. We may elect to conduct foot surveillance in several environments which are more conducive to foot pursuits.

• Congested urban environments which excessive traffic where a target vehicle move at slow and steady crawls across the urban landscape. A driver locked into a congested street does not pay much attention to pedestrians across the street.

• Highly rural environments where road infrastructure is limited if existent at all. These terrains allow us to utilize the contours, vegetation and variations to remain out of the target’s line of sight. This, obviously, is a physically demanding challenge which requires adequate dress and gear.

The golden rule for foot surveillance is to stay out of the line of sight of the surveillance target. This may not always be possible but should be the goal in any event. In the context of foot surveillance, we are looking for two things: corners and doorways, and natural obstructions such as trees, shrubs or terrain variations. Exploiting these features to our advantage is the difference between covert and obvious surveillance. Let’s look at how we proceed across an urban landscape on foot.

• Utilize corners and recessed doors along a sidewalk. Exploit blindspots created by the urban environment like bushes, trees, lamp posts or telephone poles.

• Utilize the presence of crowds to obscure your presence.

• Take advantage of passing cars on the opposite side of a street while remaining outside of your subject’s peripheral vision.

The following diagram shows a common scenario in foot surveillance:

4.4 Vehicle Surveillance:

Mobile surveillance in a vehicle is significantly more difficult than surveillance on foot. This is because, on foot, we are able to exercise a large amount of flexibility in how we move through an environment. Vehicles must obey the traffic laws of the jurisdiction in which they drive. It is incredibly easy to lose a vehicle in traffic and it is also incredibly easy to get noticed by your target when the streets are empty. When selecting a vehicle for surveillance, it is important to adhere to three principles:

• Select a vehicle which blends in, look up the most commonly driven vehicle in that region or city.

• Avoid loud colours, stick to black or grey or brown.

• Always fill your gas tank up to the brim before arriving on site, and evaluate the relative fuel milages or your options.

There are two types of vehicular surveillance which one can engage in:

• Stationary surveillance in a parked vehicle outside of a residence or place of work

• Mobile surveillance as you follow a subject around an environment

In stationary surveillance, there are numerous factors to consider. It is never a good idea to park directly in front of a residence or target location, particularly in a suburban environment. This is far less true in urban environments. The general rule of thumb is to position your vehicle a good 50-75 meters away. Observe the general flow of traffic and adjust your vehicle to match it accordingly, as it is highly likely that your target will depart the area along the same route [see diagram for details].

There is an ongoing debate among covert practitioners, private investigators and HUMINT operatives over remaining in the driver’s seat or setting up in the back of the vehicle and blacking out the windows with curtains or tape. Generally, it is always preferable to black out the windows, set up a curtain between the driver’s seat and the rear of the vehicle and hop into the back. Using small holes cut into the fabric, you can monitor the outside of the vehicle. Bear in mind, a closed vehicle with the windows up can become unbearably hot very quickly. This is a huge issue in warmer climates and may force you into the driver’s seat in the interest of personal safety. In order to overcome this issue, consider investing in a portable fan, cooler and battery packs to power said fan.

Mobile surveillance begins the minute the target appears into view and departs the area either walking or driving.

• Do not take off driving immediately as the target departs. This looks enormously suspicious if noticed.

• Leave a small buffer between you and the target vehicle. This allows you to preempt erratic driving behaviour.

• Put your shade down in order to obscure your face.

When following a target in a vehicle, you must practice dynamic driving. What this means is that as your target approaches a choke point such as a stop light, intersection or stop sign, gradually speed up and close the gap. This will lower the chance of you becoming stuck at a light as your target drives on.

If you do get stuck at the red light, make a right turn onto the adjacent street, pull a U-turn, and make another right turn onto the roadway [see diagram for details]. As you pass the chokepoint, tap the brakes and put some distance between you and the target vehicle, and simply repeat this process as you proceed across a cityscape.

In a suburban environment, dynamic driving consists of allowing the target vehicle to round a corner without directly following them around the turn. Wait until the vehicle has completely cleared the corner, and only then approach the corner, wait for a moment, and then proceed.

While following a vehicle, position your vehicle in a manner in which it is off to the left-hand side of the rear end. Most drivers look out of the mirror on their side of the vehicle. When they look at this mirror, your vehicle should be in their blind spot [see diagram for details].

When a target arrives at a location and parks a vehicle, remain out of their line of sight, always park to their rear, and immediately hop into the back seat, change your outfit and close the blinds to prevent any light from filtering in.

5. Common Mistakes in Covert Surveillance

The most common mistake in the art of covert surveillance is failing to have a reasonable excuse or cover story when confronted. Always have a pantheon of cover identities and stories to choose from. Be able to recite them from memory. If you are ever confronted, you need to exhibit a certain sense of quick wit in thinking.

5.1 Unsafe Assumptions:

Another major mistake made by junior practitioners of covert surveillance is making unsubstantiated assumptions about what a target may or may not do. Ultimately, one never knows what the target will do until the target does it. Coming unprepared to a situation and not spending at least a small amount of time considering all available factors and data will lead to failure. For example, just because a residence or building looks empty, does not totally mean that it is. There may be a back entrance or obscured driveway out of your field of view.

5.2 Lack of Situational Awareness:

It is also important to foster a good sense of situational awareness. There are a huge variety of factors to consider in the context of vehicular surveillance for example. Is the surveillance conducted during the night or daytime and under what weather conditions? How might weather conditions affect the driving patterns of the target? What are some of the indicators that suggest the target is aware of your presence? It is important to realize if a target knows you are following them. For example:

• Is the target repeatedly looking over their shoulder?

• If the target is driving, are they doubling back and pulling aggressive U-turns?

• Has the target increased the pace of walking or speed of driving?

• The target may pull up onto the side of a road and wait for you to pass them, were they looking directly at you as you passed by?

For example, the below image might just look like a rainy street, but it is in reality a surveillance teams nightmare:

• Moderate rain clings to car windows making recording difficult.

• There is no parking on the side of the street which makes stopping and observing a target on foot impossible.

• There are large areas which are not in the coverage of the street lights, obscuring a huge area in darkness.

Always consider how you look like to others when conducting surveillance, how the weather might affect your efforts, how the terrain will complicate your job and what other factors such as light or darkness could frustrate you and your team. The best solution in the situation presented in the photograph below would be to pull into the nearby parking lot and exploit those dark and poorly lit areas for your own benefit.

6. Tools and Resources of Covert Surveillance

Because the purpose of covert surveillance is to be covert, the kit which an operator uses will vary in order to match the environment and task at hand. Nonetheless, there are a number of items which are indispensable. To start off with the way we chose to appear is totally dependent on where the surveillance is being conducted. The general rule of thumb is to do everything in your ability to not stand out and be more visible than others around you. Trying to become the “Grey Man” does not mean actually dressing like the Hollywood, pop culture representation of a spook. Observe the following photo. Pictured are several plain-clothed NYPD police officers.

Even beyond the shortest of glances, these men look like you typical NYC subway commuters. They’ve adopted a very casual, urban-type look which blends into the background of an NYC subway. Notice as well that none of these men is wearing any bright or loud colours which could stand out and catch the eye. They also appear to be wearing baggy, loose-fitting jackets in order to conceal the vest and badges underneath. Nothing about these men suggests a police officer at the outset. However, any true partitioner of the art will have multiple different outfits available, even whilst on a surveillance job. At all times, a bag of clothes should be kept handy, be it in a vehicle or a pre-determined location. It should contain:

• A set of street clothes, jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers, none of which should be anything other than black, grey, brown, tan, blue or beige.

• A set of more formal wear, such as a collared shirt, blazer or sports coat, slacks or chinos, and black or brown dress shoes.

• A set of sports/active wear which should include a hoodie, sneakers and a clean t-shirt.

• A set of waterproofed clothing such as a parka, rain jacket or poncho as well as generally sturdy boots.

• Invest in a construction hat and Hi-Vis orange or yellow vest, clipboard and tripod. This will allow you to post up outside your vehicle and play the part of a road worker or land surveyor.

• Also invest in wigs, fake beards and scarfs.

• Always carry a series of hats and sunglasses.

Hats and sunglasses are crucial for a successful suite of disguises. Many surveillance investigators and HUMINT operators will stress the importance of always wearing sunglasses unless the prevalent weather would make wearing sunglasses out of place. The temptation to make eye contact with the subject of the surveillance is persistent especially when in close quarters. When eye contact is made, it is only a matter of time before the target becomes suspicious of the surveillance activities. Sunglasses will help in preventing this scenario.

Likewise, hats provide an easy way to switch disguises on the go. Hats are probably the only acceptable piece of apparel which can be brightly coloured, preferably green, white or red. In that specific context, you would generally want the hat to draw a subtle level of attention, drawing attention to the fact that it isn’t the same colour as before. It will act as a “mark”, or “mental imprint” which diverts attention from other similar aspects of the outfit. However, this method requires constantly switching the headgear, so carrying at least 3 would be advisable. In any case, the purpose of having multiple types of apparel is to blend in with any environment. One should be able to follow the target into a golf club, restaurant, dive bar, corporate office, sports event, gym or onto a beach.

Consider carrying around a pack of cigarettes, even if you don’t partake in that particularly morbid habit. Lighting up a cigarette gives you a reasonable excuse for loitering around in an area for an extended period of time. Offering one to someone who confronts you and asks what you are doing in that area is a good way to diffuse a situation and strike up a conversation. A carton of smokes can help you:

• Blend into a dive bar, smoking lounge, cafe or smokers section outside a corporate office.

• Give you an excuse for being in an odd place in a residential neighbourhood. If someone asks you something along the lines of “Excuse me, do you live here” or “Hey, what are you doing here”, you can conveniently raise a lit cigarette and say “I’m visiting my grandmother. She lives two streets down. If she ever knew I was doing this she would take my head off”.

• Security guards and watchmen tend to be smokers, and offering two or three may help you gain some information about vehicles, foot traffic or anything else.

This technique could well backfire on you. The point of covert surveillance is to be nondescript and hidden. Smoking in the United States is a lot less common than in Europe, Asia or Latin America. As such, you will stand out far more with a smoke in hand, which defeats the purpose of having one to begin with.

6.1 Surveillance Gear

The following is a non-exhaustive list of personal effects which typically are carried by a surveillance operative:

• Internet Hotspot Device

• Binoculars

• Video Recording Device

• Camera (preferably digital)

• Battery Packs

• Charging Cables

• A Moderate Amount of Cash (this allows you to pay on the spot for meals, and services, or provide small incentives to security guards, doormen or anyone with pertinent information)

• Change of Battery for Recording Equipment

• Camouflage Blanket (for rural surveillance)

• Tripod (for a camera)

• Audio Recording Equipment (includes electronic bugging device)

• Any Variety of GPS Tracking Devices

• Headphones/Ear Buds

• Remote Camera (many of which can be purchased disguised as plant life or shrubbery)

6.2 Helpful Literature

There is not an abundance of literature to read on the topic of vehicle and foot surveillance techniques. The US Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury have published a series of research papers into the subject of foot and vehicle surveillance:

VEHICLE SURVEILLANCE – PART 4 – Law and Order Volume: 26 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 44-46,48-52

SURVEILLANCE OF PREMISES, VEHICLES AND PERSONS – New Agent Training Handbook

These resources are rather old and do not incorporate all of the new advances in the realm of surveillance technology. For a more recent guide, consider reading through this guide from the International Investigative Group.

How To Conduct Physical Surveillance – International Investigative Group

7. Frequently Asked Questions

• You might be asking how does one get into this profession. Very simply, you have only 2 real options. You can either become a member of law enforcement or work for a government agency, or you can elect to pursue a private investigators license and work for private investigations company. Most people use private investigations companies as a means of gaining experience and a springboard into government work. In the end, it is a matter of preference for the type of work which is typically done by either.

• One frequently asked question which circulates among those who are just starting out in a private capacity is how should one go about training. It is true that there is a very thin fine line between criminally stalking someone and being authorized to go out onto a case. If you go out into public and simply pick a random person to surveil and follow, you may expose yourself to criminal liability. If you and a friend have time to kill on a weekend, consider asking them to play the part of a target and spend some hours following them around town. Ask them to offer you some criticisms and pointers as to how they became aware of your presence.

• Another major source of inquiry is the role of drones in surveillance. It is possible that in the near future, cheap commercial drones could replace human operatives. In fact, this could very well be to everyone’s benefit. It would reduce the amount of stress on the operator, remove them from harm’s way, be generally cheaper and could produce the same evidentiary results with advanced cameras and sensors. Nevertheless, human intervention may be required, particularly when a target enters a building or weather conditions do not permit the use of a drone.

8. Advanced Techniques

When working with multiple surveillance units, tactics employed by individuals need to be adapted to meet new circumstances. In general, working with multiple units can make the task of surveillance a great deal easier. It can also lower the probability of being detected. If you are discovered, another surveillance unit can simply take over and continue the surveillance efforts.

8.1 Multiple Vehicle Surveillance

When two or more vehicle units are operating on the same target, they may choose to employ a ‘leap-frog’ style tactic. This requires real-time communication between both units, be it through radio or telecommunications. Unless this degree of communication is maintained, coordination to the required level for this tactic is not possible. As one unit is following a target vehicle (Unit 1), the second unit (Unit 2) will follow at a reasonable distance behind:

• Unit 1 will gradually slow down and put distance between themselves and the target.

• At the exact same time, Unit 2 speeds up and closes the distance between them and the target.

• Unit 1 and Unit 2 will pass each other off, and Unit 2 will take over the lead.

• Unit 1 and Unit 2 will repeat this process as needed and where possible.

An additional unit could follow Unit 1 and Unit 2 on a parallel street and insert themselves into the pursuit when required and where possible. Again, this will require constant communication. If either unit loses sight of the target vehicle, each unit can spread out and begin a grid search of the area. With 2 or 3 units conducting a grid search, it is highly likely that the target vehicle will be reacquired.

8.2 Drone-Assisted Vehicle Surveillance

Better-funded surveillance teams may elect to use a drone to assist in the surveillance efforts. This would require an additional vehicle and drone operator. The drone operator would have to be in a vehicle in case the target exits the range where the drowning can still be operational. The drone operator would need a line of communication with the other surveillance teams. New and affordable commercial drones make this more than feasible, however, the drone pilot would need a certain degree of skill to actually be useful to the surveillance. In that sense, training scenario-based training is crucial for success.

9. Real-Life Case Study

In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, the US military began tightening a noose around Osama bin Laden’s terror network in the mountains of Afghanistan. It soon became untenable to remain in Afghanistan, so bin Laden slipped across the border into neighbouring Pakistan. He soon ordered his long-time bodyguard, Ibrahim Saeed Ahmed Abd al-Hamid to purchase land and construct a compound. Rather short-sightedly, al Hamid constructed a compound on land which he bought in his own name [source].

For nearly a decade, al Hamid and bin Laden’s family blended into the crowded backdrop of Pakistan’s urban sprawls. It all started to unravel in late 2010. Ibrahim al-Hamid, purely by chance, was spotted by a trusted CIA in Peshawar [source]. Ibrahim was bin Laden’s ‘courier’, ferrying messages to and from the aging al-Qaeda figurehead, only briefly punctuating his isolation with missives from his subordinates in Iraq and Afghanistan [source].

From Peshawar to Abbottabad

The NSA managed to pinpoint Ibrahim’s movements in Peshawar due to his electing to use a cell phone. A team of CIA agents was sent to Peshawar to track and follow Ibrahim. Ibrahim drove a white Suzuki jeep which he took into Peshawar to visit internet cafes and run basic errands [source]. The most popular car in Pakistan is a Suzuki Alto, followed by Toyota Corollas and other smaller sedans [source]. A white Suzuki jeep stands out somewhat, however, the fact that it was white would have greatly frustrated the agent’s efforts at tracking the vehicle in a congested urban sprawl. White is among several highly common colours of many vehicles across the world. Specific details are not known of the vehicle to follow, but given the nature of Peshawar’s roads, we can make some general observations:

• Initially picking up Ibrahim’s jeep as it pulled away from the internet cafe would have been enormously difficult due to the traffic congestion present at all times in central Peshawar.

• Following the jeep through the city streets would have been complicated the prevalent poor traffic on the road.

• The CIA was not using an unmanned areal system to assist in the tracking of the jeep, otherwise, there would have been very little point in having four CIA agents potentially expose themselves and burn their cover.

• It is also very likely that following the jeep through the streets of Peshawar would have involved a great deal of dynamic driving and potentially double backing down streets in order to avoid being seen.

• As the team approached the motorway leading to Abbottabad and got onto the highway, following the white jeep became a lot easier. It is possible that the CIA surveillance team elected to remain at a distance to preclude the possibility of being seen by Ibrahim.

Mobile to Stationary Surveillance

Ibrahim led the CIA agents right to bin Laden’s compound. The CIA then set up a safe house directly across the street from bin Laden’s house and began observing some highly suspect behaviour. The CIA began to observe the natural patterns of the neighborhood such as trash collection. However, the occupants of the compound burnt their trash [source]. What’s more, someone had built a privacy wall on the balcony. CIA director Leon Panetta famously quipped during a briefing:

“Who puts a privacy wall around a patio”?

Even more bizarre, Ibrahim’s family did not live in the main building but in a small annexe next to the house [source]. The CIA also found the lack of internet or phone lines to be incredibly strange. Given the size of the compound, the occupants could clearly manage to instal basic amenities but for some reason failed to. The amount of laundry on the clotheslines indicated that far more people lived in the compound than just Ibrahim and his brother’s family [source].

End of the Line

Eventually, the CIA recruited a local Pakistani doctor to organize a cover for gathering DNA samples from the compound. One of Bin Laden’s many sisters had died in the United States and the CIA was able to compare the samples gathered from the vaccine effort with her own. Ultimately nothing came of it and the doctor later ended up in a Pakistani prison on espionage charges [source]. But in the meanwhile, the CIA had gathered sufficient evidence from their surveillance efforts to convince the White House that bin Laden was, in fact, living in the compound. The simple fact of the matter is that bin Laden may well have lived out his days as a recluse in that compound had the CIA team lost track of the white Jeep in Peshawar. By successfully maintaining a follow and remaining discreet about it, Ibrahim led the CIA right to al-Qaeda’s doorstep.

10. Conclusion

All in all, covert surveillance is an art, not a science. The only way to become truly proficient at the craft is to do it repeatedly and learn from the mistakes you inevitably make. There are many opportunities both in the private sector and public sector to learn the craft and make it your profession. Nevertheless, it is a stressful job. It consists of long hours, stifling hot cars, stressful moments, shots of adrenaline, gas station breakfasts and sweaty palms. It requires a certain mentality and personality to be successful and it is very much not for everyone. But if you think you have the grit and aptitude for it, it can be one the most rewarding experiences of your life.