Todd C. Smith
Todd C. Smith currently serves as the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division, supporting the DEA Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge with executing and overseeing the Chicago Division’s drug enforcement mission throughout Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Smith began his federal law enforcement career in 2002 as an Officer with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. After graduating from the DEA Training Academy in 2004, Smith was assigned to a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area group in Chicago, where he led complex gang conspiracy investigations in partnership with the Chicago Police Department to disrupt and dismantle segments of violent Chicago street gangs through state and federal prosecutions.
Smith also conducted impactful international drug and money laundering conspiracy investigations targeting Mexican cartels distributing drugs to and through the Chicago Field Division.
In 2012, Smith was promoted to group supervisor of a DEA financial investigation team in Chicago. He led a complex conspiracy investigation enforcement group which played a critical role in Title III federal wiretaps targeting the Sinaloa cartel and significant drug and drug proceed seizures, federal conspiracy indictments, and numerous extraditions.
In 2018, Smith was assigned to the Operations Division, Mexico, Central America and Canada Section at DEA Headquarters. Smith volunteered to serve as a DEA liaison at the Department of Defense Narcotics and Transnational Crime Support Center, where he provided analytical case support to the Special Operation Division.
In 2019, Smith was promoted to the position of Executive Assistant for the DEA Chief of Operations. He assisted and advised the Chief of Operations on DEA’s global enforcement efforts in 240 domestic offices in 23 divisions throughout the United States and 93 foreign offices in 69 countries, as well as DEA’s Special Operations Division.
In June 2020, Smith returned to the DEA Chicago Field Division as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge.
In November 2021, Smith was assigned to lead the enforcement groups specializing in the targeting of transnational criminal organizations through significant drug and money laundering investigations.
Smith was appointed by DEA Administrator Terrance Cole as Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division in August 2025.
In January 2026, DEA Administrator Terrance Cole appointed Smith as the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division.
Smith graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and has received numerous awards with DEA, including multiple Administrator awards, OCDETF award, HIDTA award and multiple superior performance awards.