A man who operated as a drug courier for the notorious Cali Cartel in Colombia was discovered deceased in his upscale residence in Dubai.
Identified as Spencer Benjamin, he received a 10-year prison sentence for his involvement in an international drug trafficking ring after being observed meeting an individual at a Pizza Hut in central London by undercover law enforcement officers.
The individual he met was Ivan di Giorgio, a Venezuelan drug kingpin acting on behalf of the feared Cali Cartel, a Colombian drug syndicate that dominated over 80% of the global cocaine market in the mid-1990s.
According to reports from the Liverpool Echo, a senior officer leading the investigation described Benjamin as the “organizer for the Liverpool branch of the operation.”
Benjamin, previously residing on Solway Street West in Toxteth, was found deceased in his residence at the Arabian Ranches in Dubai on February 2, 2026. The 54-year-old had been living in the country for several years after leaving Liverpool.
During the inquest at Liverpool Coroners’ Court, Coroner Helen Rimmer mentioned that Benjamin was found unresponsive on a couch in his living room with a CPAP machine still attached to his face. Emergency services confirmed his passing upon arrival.
A post-mortem examination revealed the presence of cocaine and ketamine in his system, indicating that Benjamin had consumed these substances before his death at levels impacting vital bodily functions.
The inquest disclosed that Benjamin suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is an incurable lung condition leading to breathing difficulties and contributing to his demise.
The pathologist determined the cause of death to be cardiorespiratory arrest, exacerbated by cocaine and ketamine use along with COPD.
Ms. Rimmer noted that Benjamin’s existing lung condition, combined with drug consumption, resulted in respiratory depression and ultimately a drug-related death.
In 1999, Benjamin was under surveillance by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) when he was observed meeting di Giorgio. Police suspected illicit cash exchanges for drugs. When di Giorgio’s London home was raided, he attempted to escape but was apprehended and required a walking frame in court.
Despite going into hiding, Benjamin was observed by undercover officers setting up a flat above a shop as a “safe house.” Upon arrest, he denied involvement in drug activities, claiming to be an innocent “area manager,” although evidence suggested his key role in the international drug network.
Detective Superintendent John Kerruish highlighted Benjamin’s significance in the drug operation, emphasizing the impact of his conviction and that of di Giorgio in combating drug trafficking into Merseyside.
The Cali Cartel, established in the mid-1970s, separated from Pablo Escobar’s Medellin associates by 1988 and evolved into a powerful criminal organization recognized globally for its multi-billion dollar illicit operations, prominently depicted in the popular Netflix series “Narcos.”
