Federal Agent's Rise to Lead Chicago DEA Office: 'El Chapo' Takedown Pioneer
Todd Smith, 46, is the new special agent in charge of the US Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Chicago field office, a position he's held since mid-February. His path to the top was forged during his years as an agent under federal law enforcement.
Smith spearheaded the investigation that led to the downfall of Chicago's most notorious drug traffickers - the Flores twins and Joaquín Guzmán Loera, alias "El Chapo". He has stated that he is well-suited for this role due to his extensive experience in targeting cartels in Mexico and Colombia.
The Sinaloa cartel remains a dominant force in the region, while another significant player is Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, also known as 'El Mencho', leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The Mexican cartels have significantly increased their presence in Chicago over the past decade.
Smith's connection to the Flores case will continue to pay dividends with recent narco-terrorism charges against Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe, alias "El Musico". Margarito "Jay" Flores, one of the twins, expressed admiration for Smith and believes his background with US Customs and Border Protection makes him an excellent choice.
Smith's focus has shifted from targeting cartels in Mexico to addressing problems in northern Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. His main concern is stopping fentanyl and methamphetamine. The rise in opioid deaths was largely due to stepped-up law enforcement efforts and the availability of naloxone.
In recent years, counterfeit pills containing deadly substances have become a major issue, with 500,000 Adderall pills seized last year by the DEA in Chicago alone. Smith is working closely with state officials to address this problem.
Todd Smith, 46, is the new special agent in charge of the US Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Chicago field office, a position he's held since mid-February. His path to the top was forged during his years as an agent under federal law enforcement.
Smith spearheaded the investigation that led to the downfall of Chicago's most notorious drug traffickers - the Flores twins and Joaquín Guzmán Loera, alias "El Chapo". He has stated that he is well-suited for this role due to his extensive experience in targeting cartels in Mexico and Colombia.
The Sinaloa cartel remains a dominant force in the region, while another significant player is Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, also known as 'El Mencho', leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The Mexican cartels have significantly increased their presence in Chicago over the past decade.
Smith's connection to the Flores case will continue to pay dividends with recent narco-terrorism charges against Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe, alias "El Musico". Margarito "Jay" Flores, one of the twins, expressed admiration for Smith and believes his background with US Customs and Border Protection makes him an excellent choice.
Smith's focus has shifted from targeting cartels in Mexico to addressing problems in northern Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. His main concern is stopping fentanyl and methamphetamine. The rise in opioid deaths was largely due to stepped-up law enforcement efforts and the availability of naloxone.
In recent years, counterfeit pills containing deadly substances have become a major issue, with 500,000 Adderall pills seized last year by the DEA in Chicago alone. Smith is working closely with state officials to address this problem.
I mean like what's up with these cartels and their fake pills?! 500k Adderall pills is crazy! Like we need to stop them but at the same time, how do we even keep track of all the different types of pills? 
And has anyone tried those naloxone kits? My friend's cousin died from a overdose and now he uses it every day... it's like life or death stuff... 
Or is it more like a super complex puzzle that only experts can solve?
But what really caught my attention is how he's shifted his focus from targeting cartels in Mexico to tackling fentanyl and methamphetamine in northern Illinois. It's clear he's adapting to the changing landscape of opioid abuse and counterfeit pills.
and I'm thinking how far he's come from when he was just an agent trying to take down "El Chapo" 
It's wild to think that all those years of chasing down cartels in Mexico and Colombia have prepared him for this role 
His focus on fentanyl and methamphetamine is so important, especially with the opioid crisis still affecting our communities 
500k counterfeit pills seized in Chicago last year? That's just insane 
I'm glad he's working closely with state officials to tackle that problem too 
i'm lowkey hyped about todd smith's new gig! he's been a total boss in his previous roles and it's no surprise he's leading the charge on chicago's DEA office 
that El Chapo takedown was insane, what a career highlight for him 
and btw, 500k counterfeit pills seized in chicago last year? that's wild 
naloxone is like a lifesaver and it's awesome that smith is pushing for more availability 
46 and already the big cheese 
but I guess all those cartel cases did him good 
plus, can you imagine having 'El Musico' as a colleague? 
He's literally been on an incredible journey from being a federal agent under law enforcement to now leading the Chicago DEA office! It's like, whoa, talk about a career boost! 
And can you believe he was part of the team that took down those notorious Flores twins and "El Chapo"? 
Plus, he's not just focused on cartels, he's tackling the opioid crisis head-on – 500k counterfeit pills seized last year? That's a huge win! 
Let's give this guy some love and support! 
. I mean, what's his true motive? Is he really just fighting for justice or is there something more sinister at play?
! Smith's background in US Customs and Border Protection makes him a suspect to me, especially considering his new focus on stopping counterfeit pills. I think he might be more interested in controlling the supply chain than actually helping the people.
. On one hand, you gotta respect his tenacity and dedication to takin' down cartels. I mean, El Chapo? That's some serious heat