"I got the money. I just want to see the goods, that's all."

A rough-looking man, with a big brown beard, hood up, wearing dark clothes talks on his cell phone on Jensen Camp Road in St. John's.

He's grabbed the attention of the group of young men hanging around the neighourhood.

What they don't know is that he's a cop, looking for a missing teen wanted on a warrant.

'Kickass' team

Forget everything a police officer typically looks like — the crisp uniform, the clean-shaven face — and you'll find Sgt. Alex Brennan.

He's coming out from undercover and has agreed to speak with CBC.

A 20-year veteran of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and colonel in the military, Brennan projects a friendly authority, but heads up what he calls a "kickass" team within the RNC.

Brennan's departure from his clean-cut image as a military leader to gruff undercover cop is startling.

Obviously, they're not carrying that because it happens to be a little sugar to taste later. - Sgt. Alex Brennan , after drugs found on arrested woman

But he and the other three men on his team need to blend into places the average cop would never go undetected.

"When we go out on a street corner, we go and mix with a crowd," Brennan said, during an interview with CBC News.

"We're like ghosts, you can float around and no one is going to detect who you are."

The Compliance and Enforcement of Orders (CEO) Unit keeps tabs on repeat offenders who have been released on probation or court orders, and tracks down people wanted on warrants.

The RNC's Compliance and Enforcement of Orders Unit was formed in 2013. These stats represent fall until May 2015. 0:48

They have an impeccable ability to recognize names and faces, always needing to be one step ahead of the next crime.

Established in 2013, the undercover squad tracks the five per cent of repeat offenders who continually cause trouble, putting them under a microscope, checking up on them when they least suspect it.

Officers also assist other units, helping make arrests during an armed robbery sting dubbed Operation Renegade and providing intelligence on the Captain's Quarter's homicide investigation.

Ride along

Sgt. Alex Brennan and his partner, an undercover officer, check up on a man who is on probation and under curfew. (Paul Pickett/CBC)

This evening, videographer Paul Pickett and I are along for the ride.

Before we head out, Brennan cautions us that not every night is exciting, that it's not just about an arrest — it's about compliance. But you never know what can happen.

A call from Corrections Canada sets the tone.

The team looks for a missing teen who is wanted on a warrant. He could be in this St. John's neighbourhood. (Paul Pickett/CBC)

"We have a warrant for a female ... if I can get my team together fast enough, we'll be able to take that individual down," Brennan says as he quickly leaves the small office the team works out of at RNC headquarters.

We begin driving in an unmarked car, with tinted windows and mysterious stains on the backseat.

There are no bars on the windows or between the front and back seats. There is no radio. Only file folders with mugshots and court-ordered conditions, and cell phones.

"You don't need fancy equipment to do good police work," he explains.

Crystal meth

A woman wanted on a warrant is held by police on Springdale Street in St. John's. (Paul Pickett/CBC)

As we turn on Springdale Street, we can see uniformed officers have already arrived, and are holding the woman there until Brennan shows up.

He explains this particular character has been known to elude police.

"We think it's crystal meth, hey?" Brennan asks his partner, who's holding several small bags of a white powder.

Needles and bags of drugs were found during a search of the woman by correctional officers at the lockup.

"What you're seeing is a crystal-type of drug. Obviously, they're not carrying that because it happens to be a little sugar to taste later."

Bags of what's believed to be crystal meth were taken from a woman who was arrested on a warrant in St. John's in April. (Paul Pickett/CBC)

Now, we're back on track.

Five people accused in a stabbing in Southlands are on strict conditions. The team will knock on their doors to ensure they're home after curfew and that they're following any other orders, like staying away from drugs, alcohol, weapons, and certain people.

One by one, Brennan and his partner drive to each address for the youths and one adult charged in the Southlands stabbing. All are compliant, but there was one suspicious detail.

"We could clearly see [the accused] had a mark on his left eye and there was bruising around it. Sometimes that would be indicative of a street fight but obviously there was a blunt force that met the side of his face."

Not enough evidence for a breach, but enough for a warning.

Biker bar

Sgt. Alex Brennan's partner places small baggies of what's believed to be crystal meth into evidence at RNC headquarters. (Paul Pickett/CBC)

We zip past a sports bar, which Brennan explains is operated by a motorcycle club.

"We've got activity inside," Brennan says, as he slows down to take a look.

"We like to keep an eye on places that are of interest to us, or other police officers, because you don't know what you're going to come across."

Police officers stop on Water Street, after seeing two men breaking beer bottles, drinking on the street and rolling a joint. One of the two men has outstanding warrants for theft in Nova Scotia. (Paul Pickett/CBC)

It's that element of the unknown that makes the job so exhilarating, and potentially dangerous.

"One, two, three baseball bats," Brennan whispers to his fellow officer, as they wait outside the home of a woman on house arrest, in the east end of the city.

Baseball bats that were sitting near the front door on the inside of the house.

"I guess you don't know when a baseball game is going to break out," Brennan says, as he smirks.

"A lot of times we'll stop a car in the middle of winter and there's chains by the driver's door, there's a lug wrench jammed down between the stick shift. Baseball bat jammed down by the passenger seat. Not illegal to carry a baseball bat but it's all indicative of the drug trade."

Everyone on this "Wanted Wednesday" wall has now been arrested. (Paul Pickett/CBC)

The last stop of the night is at the request of Major Crimes — after several years in prison, a man accused of second-degree murder has been released on bail while he waits for a second trial .

"Hello," the voice greets Brennan and his partner at the door. "Can we come in?" they ask. No problem.

"He was compliant. Couldn't ask for a better case scenario," says Brennan as he gets back in the car. "Showed up, had his ID card, no signs of impairment, parents were there."

About 90 per cent of people comply with their court orders, Brennan estimates. But without someone keeping watch, he says, the worst could happen.

He points to tragic cases involving domestic abuse, where partners on court orders to stay away don't, in some cases leading to death.

"There are those who are good at avoiding the police but you know what? We'll catch up to you," Brennan says.

"For anyone who has a warrant out there, here's what I'll say to you." He looks right into the CBC camera.

"Turn yourselves in because sooner or later we are going to find you."

The job isn't for everyone — certainly not for the faint of heart, as Brennan told me several times. There are no marked cars, no flashing lights and sirens.

But for Alex Brennan, it's the most exciting job he's ever done.