Ontario’s man tells the ordeal after stuck in the Dominican Republic of “false” drugs.

Ontario, who was arrested in the Dominican Republic for drug smuggling, recounts his ordeal for 71 days in the Caribbean country.

David Bennett, 57, returned to Perlington on May 16, weeks after the severe pressure by Canadian government officials and others, led by his wife, Jane Wilkox, to withdraw his concern.

The couple spent a week in a resort with two friends and they were on their way home on March 7 when Bennett was refused to enter the automated customs portal at Punta Cana Airport and they were transferred to the interrogation room.

A picture was shown on a bag that they did not recognize, with a little different: Davi Bennett instead of David R. Bennett – the name on the Bennett bag and all his travel documents. In March, Wilkox told March that the charges were “false”.

RCMP said this week that he continues to investigate luggage switching plans, and has led to arrests related to this particular situation.

“It was really scary.”

Now he returned to Canada, he told Bennett Kamilton on Friday about his arrest.

In the wake of the interrogation at the airport, Bennett said that the officers took him, who were male and female, and they were facing similar charges, to a small truck at the airport.

Bennett said: “They (they) loaded us in the Beck App truck and led us at speeds of more than 130 km per hour, and half an hour outside the airport to a complex,” Bennett said.

“We were at the back of this car with no safety belts. It was really scary.”

Bennett said that there are between 15 to 20 people, some of whom wear military uniforms, in the complex in which he was transferred.

“Then they brought a translator – a woman who could translate a little in English – when they told us seriously what was before us.”

Shortly after an hour on the site, Bennett said they were transferred to the airport where they remained in the back of the Beck App hot and risk for about two hours before being transferred to the prison facility.

The “Black Stadium” does not move a room in prison

Bennett said he was placed in a “truly small” cell of about 12 to 15 other men and more people have been added all night.

“It was black. We could not see the faces of anyone coming. We only saw pictures of the coming people and we had no idea what we were dealing with,” he said.

“I literally sat in the corner all the time because it was just an existing room. There was no way to lie down, there was no way to move really.”

Bennett said that he tried to remain positive, and tells himself that the whole thing will be sorted the next morning, and he would only need “difficult” that night.

“My goal was to sleep and forget about it, not thinking about it.”

But the ordeal lasted longer than one night.

Bennett was accused of drug trafficking. He was transferred to the court on March 8 and released on bail of $ 5,000. He was unable to leave the Dominican Republic for a travel ban and his passport kept by the local authorities.

The charges against Bennett were withdrawn in mid -April, but the travel ban remained in place.

“I moved nine times in 71 days (and) I had this black cloud on my head all the time when I was there,” he said.

“The landing again in Toronto was amazing.”

Meanwhile, Wilkox worked around the clock, first to drop the charges against her husband and then bring him home.

On May 15, around 8 pm East time, the family got the news spent more than 10 painful weeks to click on it.

Bennett said that global affairs in Canada advised the family by e -mail, and the travel ban was officially lifted and they were only waiting for paperwork the next morning.

He said that his wife “booked a trip within 20 minutes” until he travels home to Canada the next afternoon.

“The drop in Toronto was amazing. We had an amazing approach coming over Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. It was a beautiful evening, so I had just an incredible view in the region, and as you learned, just the landing was just a great feeling,” Bennett said.

He said he missed a lot of things, including birthdays and anniversary, while he was stuck in the Dominican Republic – but he was happy to return home.

“Project Nits Dave”

Bennett said that returning to his wife, family and friends was “savior.” He is also happy to be in his bed again.

He said: “I did not sleep at all well there … I was tired in the first number of days (upon returning) and I still feel some remaining fatigue throughout the day. We have an amazing friends network that supported us during this, so it was completely the week and I am very grateful to be at home.”

Wilkox is also comfortable with the ordeal.

“I am in a project that nourishes Dave now. I have lost some weight while he is far away, so I got enthusiastically cooking and nutrition, and we continue every minute we can,” Wilkox told CBC News.

Wilkox said that the Canadians deserve a better treatment than the country’s embassies and global affairs in Canada.

“There were wires that crossed. We received misleading information. They did not answer our questions. People do not seem to know what was happening. It was very frustrated,” she said.

CBC News has reached Global Affairs Canada for comment.

RCMP said that the members of the Toronto Airport secession are actively investigating in cases that involve the luggage brand replacement incidents in attempts to smuggle illegal drugs and agree to Canada.

In addition to recent arrests, RCMP says it “is also cooperating with any foreign police partners to provide evidence that may help any files related to these investigations.”

For Wilcox, the “silver lining” in the experiment is to support the society they have received through everything.

Wilkox said it costs the family approximately $ 85,000 to fight the charges. They managed to raise $ 55,000 and “very grateful” for all community support.

“We have started talking about how we can help other people with painful situations, and they are victims of crime …. We will explore that while we continue to recover here ourselves.”