Hey,
Not looking for hypothetical but wanted to see if there was any solid information out there, preferably from someone who has experienced a raid or knows how they are conducted. To what degree do they flip your house? Do they take any x-ray type shit to look through stuff? I have a few layers of "physical" opsec that I hope would offer some protection in the event of a raid or my house being searched. I've done some things on my house that I think would be good should this event ever happen. I don't at all expect it to happen, but was wondering a "just in case" scenario. How much time do they spend looking through all of your shit?
But I have no idea, aside from the movies, how searches are conducted.
Just as an aside: I'm paranoid by nature, so I tend to always operate under the assumption that something has gone wrong. My house is always clean, and if not completely clean, its clean in such a way it'll be clean from a search (hence the reason for my question). I discard of any DNM remnants, things like envelopes, packaging, immediately, discreetly, and completely destroyed. My computers are all encrypted, difficult password, plus use Tails for anything market related. I believe we should try to operate like this as much as possible. Oftentimes, if we do get a visit and a knock, it won't be announced ahead of time - it'll come as a complete surprise. We can't get too lazy and leave shit laying around b/c most of the time you won't even know its coming.
I once watched a raid take place from the beginning at an apt complex several yrs ago. watched several LE arrive quietly early in the morning with a large video camera. Someone who wasnt wearing a uniform was recording on it. both marked and unmarked cars ranging from local le to fed dea. they spent a little while quietly grouping together outside of their vehicles which were parked in a rear parking lot. drug dogs barked in the cars of some of the agents. couldnt hear what they were saying but the people they wanted lived on an upper floor so perhaps they were discussing their entrance method? The unmarked man was recording the entire time following them. they spoke together for a while it seemed and then very quietly walked in single file (including the cameraman) to the apt door which had the first entrance on the lower level. Saw a bunch of hand movements then they stood in silence for a few seconds. then the silence was broken by a thunderous sound of the lower door being bashed and the officers stormed up the stairs. Then the screaming started. "This is the Police get your hands up! Police, get on the ground now! Get on the ground! Dont move!" I heard some women screaming and what sounded like struggling. I heard things being thrown and smashed. Then some of the officers came out and retrieved the anxiously barking dogs. They were brought into the apt. Heard some more yelling that sounded like the police. Things like "where is it?" and "Dont fucking move" I heard from inside the apt. It seemed like a long time but eventually 3 people, 2 men and one woman came out in handcuffs. The cameraman walked in front pointing the camera at them while they walked to the cop cars. 2 were put into one car and the man was put into a separate car. The women were crying. The cars with those arrested left and several others remained. Eventually the remaining officers and the dogs came out. The officers were carrying large plastic see- through bags filled with things. I saw a laptop, a desktop, some kitchen wear and other things were hard to see. Probably 3 bags I saw them carrying. The cameraman walked over to them and began recording them carrying the bags and putting them into their cars. The remaining officers congregated again but was more brief and constantly being recorded by the unmarked cameraman. After a bit they left. Later I was told that the apt was trashed. completely busted including the ceiling which is where I was told they were hiding things. Not sure what the outcome of the raid was but it was damn interesting to watch.