An Investigative Method Few Businesses Know About

Are you familiar with infiltration? Better known as an “undercover operation”, it is one of the most effective investigative methods when properly planned, although often overlooked.
 

An undercover operation is used to obtain information that would otherwise be inaccessible. This method proves valuable in a wide range of situations requiring a precise and in-depth approach, where the investigator must analyze the situation according to the object of investigation. 

When to use an undercover operation 

We recommend infiltration in the following situations:
 

• Unusual employee turnover 

• Drug use or trafficking 

• Production slowdown 

• Harassment or intimidation 

• Internal or external theft 

• Time theft or fraud 

• Vandalism 

• Sabotage 
   

The ability of this investigative method to detect information and behaviors that are difficult to identify makes it essential for addressing issues that threaten the smooth functioning of your operations and for guiding your strategic decisions. 

How does an undercover operation work? 

To give an example, a client in the logistics industry suspected that some employees were using substances during breaks and operating equipment while intoxicated.
 

We recruited an agent who has the skills required to work in that environment. After successfully completing the interview process, the agent was hired by the company and began the assignment.
 

The investigator identified who was using substances, when and where. With this privileged information, a surveillance team was discreetly deployed to record video footage of the area where the substance use took place, outside the warehouse. Employees were observed smoking joints, which were later collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis—confirming the presence of cannabis. 
 

During simultaneous interviews conducted by our investigators, the employees initially denied the behavior but eventually admitted to repeated consumption. In another case, an investigator was assigned to a distribution center to investigate internal thefts. In addition to identifying the source of the thefts, the investigator discovered that a supervisor was harassing employees, which had caused serious turnover issues for months and significantly increased recruitment and training costs.
 

Finally, in a workplace affected by employees negatively influencing their colleagues—encouraging them to slow down or even sabotage operations—, infiltration allowed the company to uncover key operational information and make strategic decisions accordingly. 

Preparation: the key to a successful operation 

As with any investigation, thorough preparation and the undercover agent’s credibility are essential to the success of the assignment.
 

Selecting an investigator who will integrate effectively within the group requires considering the work environment, the team demographics, and the daily tasks associated with the role.
 

Such an operation must be planned with the utmost attention to confidentiality and safety for all parties involved. We ensure that confidentiality agreements are in place to protect both the client and the investigators. In addition, every file is assigned a code name to safeguard the identity of the site and the client. 

GardaWorld Security: a leader in corporate investigations

With over 25 years of experience in the field of corporate investigations, GardaWorld Security leverages its expertise daily to help clients achieve operational success.