World’s 10 Deadliest Intelligence Agencies

Today we’ve made it our mission to tell you all about the world’s deadliest intelligence agencies.

I think it’d be really cool to be a secret agent/spy. I’m not nearly sneaky enough to be able to achieve the spy part, but I think I’d look great in the outfit that I’ve designed in my head. I could otherwise never get away with any covert operation, let alone something that involves killing anyone. Even if someone is bad, I would be far too guilty to do something lethal. I also have the anxiety level of a small dog when there’s a thunderstorm. It’d be interesting to see how I’d handle actual combat-type situations, but I would never even attempt it if we’re being honest. I just want to wear the outfit.

Intelligence agencies are crucial in many countries for completing serious operations that need to be kept top secret. Some are more effective than others depending on the strength of a country’s government, and those are on the list of the Best Intelligence Agencies in the World. It’d be interesting to see if any of the agencies on that list will match up with this one. It takes a lot of work and skill in order to become part of these agencies and to perform any tasks you’re asked.

To create this list, we found agencies on Quora. Since they’re all so top secret, it’s difficult to find enough information to be able to rank them to complete accuracy, so they’re in order by the year they were founded. The oldest agency is at the top of the list. These intelligence agencies are responsible for and participate in national defense, crisis management, defense planning and military operations, and counterintelligence. Those things are all reasons for why they’re so top secret because any extra information would spill next moves and tactics when dealing with crucial details.

Without further ado, let’s check out the world’s deadliest intelligence agencies.

10. General Directorate for External Security (DGSE)

Founded: 1982
Headquarters: Paris, France

The DGSE is an external agency, meaning it deals with any external affairs or threats. The budget is divided to military intelligence, diplomatic intelligence, and economic intelligence.

9. Research & Analysis Wing (RAW)

Founded: 1968
Headquarters: New Delhi, India

RAW is focused on external affairs and collaborates with other intelligence agencies that have a common interest in Pakistan’s nuclear program. This agency played a major role in the independence of Bangladesh. It was able to test and detonate a nuclear bomb in extreme secrecy.

8. Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst-BND)

Founded: 1956
Headquarters: Pullach and Berlin, Germany

Not only does BND have high-end surveillance devices, it gathers information on military and civil intelligence. It also performs counterintelligence and it was created by Richard Gehlen, who held office from 1956 to 1968.

7. Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS)

Founded: 1952
Headquarters: Canberra, Australia

ASIS collects foreign intelligence primarily in the Asia-Pacific region. The primary goal is to protect and promote Australia’s interests with the provision of the government. It strives to achieve satisfying results.

6. Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations (HaMossad leModiʿin uleTafkidim Meyuḥadim-Mossad)

Founded: 1949
Headquarters: Tel Aviv, Israel

Mossad has a long list of operations, primarily its responsibility for the trial and execution of Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann. It also informed the US on terrorists planning a major attack, which a month later struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

5. Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)

Founded: 1948
Headquarters: Islamabad, Pakistan

ISI, the most important intel agency of Pakistan, in collaboration with the CIA and Mossad, performed an undercover operation of Soviet-made and Lebanese weapons during the Israeli invasion. This is enough reason to prove that it’s one of the world’s deadliest intelligence agencies and they work hand-in-hand to bring down terrorist attacks.

4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Founded: 1947
Headquarters: Fairfax, Virginia, United States

The CIA functions as the head of the US intelligence community. Its actions work covertly in accordance with the president. The CIA is by far one of the most familiar intelligence agencies on this list.

3. Ministry of State Security (MSS)

Founded: 1924
Headquarters: Beijing, China

We are continuing our list of world’s deadliest intelligence agencies with MSS that is a non-military intelligence agency, but its scope is counterintelligence, foreign intelligence, and political security. While others on this list are focused on external affairs, MSS handles both internal and external affairs.

2. Main Intelligence Agency (GRU)

Founded: 1918
Headquarters: Moscow, Russia

The largest Russian foreign intelligence agency of GRU. GRU is the basic reason for why Russia has become a major threat to all the dominating countries in the world.

1. Military Intelligence, Section 6 (MI6)

Founded: 1909
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

M16 is the oldest intelligence agency on our list and it existed even before World War I. It’s endured all the world wars and it performs humanitarian and political actions, which justifies its position on our list.

That concludes our list of the world’s deadliest intelligence agencies. While it was ranked simply by age due to a lack of available data, it still shows how intelligence agencies function in the world to protect countries.