US Edition‘I Was Innocent’: Ontario Man Returns Home After Arrest in Dominican Republic
- David Bennett, a Burlington, Ontario man, returned home on May 16, 2025, after being wrongfully arrested in the Dominican Republic for drug trafficking.
- Bennett was detained at Punta Cana airport on March 7 after being denied entry over a bag he and his wife said was not his, causing him to face charges that were later withdrawn.
- During the 71 days Bennett was stuck due to court delays and a travel ban, his wife Jane Wilcox worked with community members and Canadian officials to secure his release.
- Bennett spent over $80,000 on legal and accommodation costs, suffered weight loss and poor sleep, and described the situation as "frustrating" while calling for more government transparency.
- Now safe at home, Bennett is recovering physically, still has unanswered questions, and urges Canadians to track luggage carefully and consult travel advisories before trips.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Rocky Mountain Outlook
'I was innocent': Ontario man returns home after arrest in Dominican Republic
When David Bennett decided to escape Canada's icy winter with a weeklong trip to the Dominican Republic, he never imagined he'd be fighting to get back on Canadian soil for more than two months. Bennett has finally returned to his Burlington, Ont.
burlingtontoday.com
‘Nightmare’ finally over for man wrongfully charged in Dominican Republic
This week on our 'Inside the Village' podcast: A Burlington man who is safely back home after being cleared of bogus drug charges tells his story — and offers some advice to fellow travellers
‘I was innocent’: Ontario man returns home after arrest in Dominican Republic – 105.9 The Region
When David Bennett decided to escape Canada’s icy winter with a weeklong trip to the Dominican Republic, he never imagined he’d be fighting to get back on Canadian soil for more than two months. Bennett has finally returned to his Burlington, Ont., home after being arrested in the Caribbean country and accused of smuggling drugs. Even after the charges were withdrawn, he was stuck in the island nation for weeks due to court delays. He’s now call…
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