OPERATIVES GUIDE: LEAVE ZERO DNA

Survival is something that’s always intrigued me. I think one book that really peaked that interest for me was Hatchet by Gary Paulson back in the 4th or 5th grade. Ever since then, I’ve read some wild stories about evasion & capture by some of the world’s most elite military operatives & violent nomads alike— there’s something about the idea of surviving off the grid and flying under the radar that I’ve almost romanticized— In my experience, the most silent guy in the room is the likely most deadly. Telling the masses that you’re armed & ready for a fight won’t help you until you’ve become proficient in your preparedness for said fight. In the worst case, you’ll end up blowing your cover & losing your leverage in a potentially deadly situation.

But today, we’re talking about reducing the odds of leaving forensic clues behind in any possible legal situation you’re in.

DNA samples can be lifted from mucus & sweat just as easily as they can be lifted about off human tissue & skin cells, so it’s best if you shower & scrub the loose cells off. Most career criminals know this trick & they’ll use as to not be betrayed by a stray hair or flaky skin. A thorough body scrub can reduce the odds of leaving behind trace DNA.

When it comes to clothing, an operative should find clothes that cover his entire body— Denim & cotton are the most common clothing textiles in the world which therefore make them the least traceable. When an operative does proceed with his target, he covers his face with a mask of some sort whether it be a surgical mask or full ski mask— he must avoid any spread of saliva or mucus, just as he must avoid touching what is unnecessary. Attempting to clean a target site is nearly impossible, so it’s best to avoid leaving traces from the start. Once the mission is complete, he burns all of his operational clothing. Enjoy the handy dandy guide above for a visual reference.