Travel can be unpredictable, especially for those of us that travel to complex and higher-risk environments.

Whether you’re a journalist on assignment, a security operative, or a business traveller venturing into emerging markets, understanding how to navigate the various risks you might face in these environments is essential for your safety and success.

‘Under the Radar’ is a bit different from our other books. Rather than focusing on prevention, this book assumes the worst has happened. You have been discovered, confronted, and detained. You may be questioned, interrogated, or even tortured. At some point, you may find that you have an opportunity to escape. If you can escape, you’ll need to evade your pursuers and get yourself to safety. Getting yourself to safety in this context will typically mean sneaking across a border.

Seems simple when you put it like that.

Of course, it’s not simple at all. Particularly when you’re in a country where you don’t speak the language, don’t have a local support network, and probably stand out when moving around.

Under the Radar presents these challenging scenarios and walks you through the process of considering and evaluating your options. It then walks you through your response, detailing what you need to focus on at each stage while also considering the many ethical dilemmas you’re likely to face along the way.

While the intent for Under the Rader is to be enable you to navigate critical situations, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of proactively managing your security to avoid getting yourself into these situations.

The author, Grant Rayner, has travelled to and worked in a diverse range of operating environments. He started his security career in the military, serving in special operations and intelligence roles. He has spent the past 22 years working as a security consultant, based in Asia. He’s also an experienced traveller and has been to places where the risks described in this book are very real.

 

Table of contents

1. Preparation
2. Arrival
3. Operational security
4. Contact!
5. Police problems
6. Arrest
7. Interrogation
8. Torture
9. Detainment
10. Escape 101 (lower-security facilities)
11. Escape 102 (higher-security facilities)
12. Evasion 101 (rural environments)
13. Evasion 102 (urban environments)
14. Getting out
15. Illegal crossing
16. Over it all

Updates in Version 5

• Reduce font size slightly
• Add inset picture
• Add back cover picture
• Minor editing to dedication, prologue and preface

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First published 27 November 2020

Updated to Version 5 on 12 March 2024

ISBN: 978-981-14-9032-3

297 pages

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