undercover operation
Covert investigative mission
An undercover operation is a covert investigation in which law enforcement officers or agents adopt false identities to infiltrate criminal organizations, gather evidence, or expose illegal activity.
The term extends to intelligence work and journalism: The undercover operation took eighteen months to build a case against the trafficking ring.
Distinguished from surveillance by the agent's active participation in the target environment.
- drug bustLaw enforcement contraband seizure
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- black opsUnacknowledged covert activities
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
double agent · inside man · safe house · spy · espionage · informant · secret identity · agent · need to know · dead drop · handler · stakeout · reconnaissance · mole · police informant · wiretapping · wire tap · stealthy
- policingpatrol, police powers, arrests, police officer, arrest
- counterterrorismDelta Force, raid, Navy SEALs, SAS, intelligence gathering
- investigationsinvestigation report, audit, investigation, review, FBI investigation
undercover operationshow of force
Intimidating display of power
community policing · press conference · public hearing · press release
cover, under, operation, covert, undercover, operative, operations, operational, covertly