Luke LaManna

He was defecting for love. He was on the outs with his wife and son and desperate to rekindle a flame with an old mistress who lived in Canada. Moving to America would let him break from his family and start a new chapter with his old girlfriend. Yurchenko was pretty sure the CIA would help him. After all, he was the highest-ranking KGB agent to ever defect.

Once Yurchenko got comfortable, the officers asked what they always ask defectors. Did he know any of the Americans leaking secrets to the KGB? Yurchenko said he did. There were two of them. One worked at the National Security Agency, and the other was a CIA agent and a mole. The officers were well-trained to betray no emotion, but Yurchenko couldn't help but see the impact of his words.

Once Yurchenko got comfortable, the officers asked what they always ask defectors. Did he know any of the Americans leaking secrets to the KGB? Yurchenko said he did. There were two of them. One worked at the National Security Agency, and the other was a CIA agent and a mole. The officers were well-trained to betray no emotion, but Yurchenko couldn't help but see the impact of his words.

One officer blinked several times in a row. The other agent's mouth twitched. The two men thanked Yurchenko and calmly walked out of the room. But Yurchenko imagined that the minute they were out of hearing range, they would start racing down the halls to put in an urgent call to Washington. Because they had just unearthed a terrifying secret. That a KGB mole was operating right under their noses.

One officer blinked several times in a row. The other agent's mouth twitched. The two men thanked Yurchenko and calmly walked out of the room. But Yurchenko imagined that the minute they were out of hearing range, they would start racing down the halls to put in an urgent call to Washington. Because they had just unearthed a terrifying secret. That a KGB mole was operating right under their noses.

From Ballin Studios in Wondery, I'm Luke LaManna, and this is Redacted Declassified Mysteries, where each week we shine a light on the shadowy corners of espionage, covert operations, and misinformation to reveal the dark secrets our governments try to hide. This week's episode is called The Ames Mole Hunt.

From Ballin Studios in Wondery, I'm Luke LaManna, and this is Redacted Declassified Mysteries, where each week we shine a light on the shadowy corners of espionage, covert operations, and misinformation to reveal the dark secrets our governments try to hide. This week's episode is called The Ames Mole Hunt.

Ever since I became a student of military history, I've known that the US and Russia have always had what you might call a complicated relationship. Both countries have enough nuclear weapons to obliterate the other and have always relied on spies to plumb each other's secrets. The CIA has a history of sniffing out Soviets willing to switch sides and fight for the American cause.

Ever since I became a student of military history, I've known that the US and Russia have always had what you might call a complicated relationship. Both countries have enough nuclear weapons to obliterate the other and have always relied on spies to plumb each other's secrets. The CIA has a history of sniffing out Soviets willing to switch sides and fight for the American cause.

brave double agents willing to risk their lives, and who sometimes ended up living their own American dream in the States afterwards. These defectors may have been foreign, but the CIA saw them as American heroes. But spies cut both ways. And in 1985, one of the CIA's top agents, the chief of Soviet counterintelligence, did the unthinkable.

brave double agents willing to risk their lives, and who sometimes ended up living their own American dream in the States afterwards. These defectors may have been foreign, but the CIA saw them as American heroes. But spies cut both ways. And in 1985, one of the CIA's top agents, the chief of Soviet counterintelligence, did the unthinkable.

He betrayed his country to sell secrets to the KGB and reveal the identities of top-secret CIA assets. It led to the execution of 10 Russians working for the American cause. And he did it for cold, hard cash. The brutal murder of these agents sparked a decade-long hunt for whoever ratted them out. At first, the CIA asked themselves who was capable of such horrific treason.

He betrayed his country to sell secrets to the KGB and reveal the identities of top-secret CIA assets. It led to the execution of 10 Russians working for the American cause. And he did it for cold, hard cash. The brutal murder of these agents sparked a decade-long hunt for whoever ratted them out. At first, the CIA asked themselves who was capable of such horrific treason.

Then, when they closed in on a suspect, they wondered, how could we have let this happen? As it turned out, all it took was two things. One man's desperation and the CIA's deadly blind spots. Late one night in 1981, an American and Russian diplomat roared with laughter at a Mexico City dive bar. They clinked glasses and downed their sixth round of vodka shots. Or maybe it was their seventh.

Then, when they closed in on a suspect, they wondered, how could we have let this happen? As it turned out, all it took was two things. One man's desperation and the CIA's deadly blind spots. Late one night in 1981, an American and Russian diplomat roared with laughter at a Mexico City dive bar. They clinked glasses and downed their sixth round of vodka shots. Or maybe it was their seventh.

It was a blur because these guys were on a day-long bender. The tall, dark-haired one was a 40-year-old American named Aldrich Ames, or Rick to his friends. He was posing as an employee at the U.S. Embassy. But Rick was actually an undercover CIA agent. And his drinking partner, a short, lively Russian named Igor Shurigan, was undercover KGB agent.

It was a blur because these guys were on a day-long bender. The tall, dark-haired one was a 40-year-old American named Aldrich Ames, or Rick to his friends. He was posing as an employee at the U.S. Embassy. But Rick was actually an undercover CIA agent. And his drinking partner, a short, lively Russian named Igor Shurigan, was undercover KGB agent.

Rick's mission in Mexico was to seek out local KGB officers and recruit them to work for the CIA. Igor's job was the same, but recruiting Americans for the KGB. They were an odd couple, two spies trying to extract secrets from each other. But despite their ulterior motives, they bonded over two powerful forces, vodka and complaining. Today's binge started at lunch at the diplomat's club.

Rick's mission in Mexico was to seek out local KGB officers and recruit them to work for the CIA. Igor's job was the same, but recruiting Americans for the KGB. They were an odd couple, two spies trying to extract secrets from each other. But despite their ulterior motives, they bonded over two powerful forces, vodka and complaining. Today's binge started at lunch at the diplomat's club.

Now, hours later, it was last call at a dive bar. Rick's mood turned grim as he fumbled for his pack of cigarettes and found it was empty. Luckily, Igor swooped in with a cigarette and a lighter. Rick lit it, took a deep breath, and exhaled. Igor asked him what was wrong. His friend seemed stressed. Was it trouble at work? Rick felt a flutter of nerves.