courier agent

An agent used by the intelligence service for secret communication with an agency in another country or in a country where a rezidentura operated, but at a considerable distance away. He or she would transport intelligence material, documents, money and operational technology. Courier agents were recruited from among people who had the opportunity to regularly travel to the country in question and they made up a part of the ancillary agency. When selecting a courier agent it was necessary to consider reliability, secrecy, operational capacity and frequent, free, easily explainable legal cross-border movement. It was also crucial to agree on and implement a system of communication and signals for specific actions. In some cases, false documents were issued for the courier agent to permit legal entry to the country of interest or illegal border crossing.