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The term "mole" has its roots in international espionage
and refers most specifically to an agent who penetrates the
intelligence service of an enemy power: "A spy who becomes
part of and works from within the ranks of an enemy
governmental staff or governmental agency." The best examples of "moles" cannot be
identified because we never hear about them, but we do know
about Harold Adrian Russell "Kim" Philby, the Soviet agent who
infiltrated the British intelligence agency and who defected
to the U.S.S.R. in 1963.
Even with reference to foreign intelligence activities,
the term "undercover mole" would be redundant. A "mole" in
this context is by definition "undercover."
Someone who agrees to report to the police or prosecutors
illegal activity in which he involves himself for the express
purpose of nailing another party is an undercover informant.
If a slang term were sought to convey this idea, that term
would be "stoolie." The slightly pejorative nature of this
word may be buttressed if the informant, himself guilty of a
crime, agrees to cooperate with law-enforcement authorities
in exchange for a lighter sentence or admission to a witness-
protection program.
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