The Czechoslovak State Security was initially taken by suprise by Carlos´s visits, and despite its efforts it was unable to prevent him from travelling to the CSSR on a diplomatic passport. In the operations II and IV Directorate FMV "Bak" and IV Directorate SNB "Turista" they gradually succeeded in deploying a network of agents as well as secret policemen to follow him. State Security combined surveillance of selected embassies, especially the Iraqi and Syrian embassies and their intelligence officers, with the use of what were known as hotel agencies and direct surveillance of Carlos and his companions. Surveillance of the terrorist became much more effective with the closer collaboration of Czechoslovak, East German and Hungarian security services. Unlike their colleagues, the Czechoslovak secret police regarded Carlos´s presence in Prague as a potential threat capable of "damaging the political interests of the CSSR abroad."