Former Melbourne soccer prodigy Dejan Dukic jailed for Cranbourne North drug dealing racket
A Melbourne soccer star on his way to the pros fell hard into a meth and cocaine racket armed to the teeth with guns and bombs.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A former Melbourne soccer prodigy on his way to a professional career turned to trafficking drugs after a knee injury ended his sporting dreams.
Dean Dukic, 34, was sentenced in the County Court on Friday to a minimum 44-month jail term after pleading guilty to trafficking meth and cocaine.
Dukic, who also pleaded guilty to trafficking a commercial quantity of ephedrine, was done at his family’s Cranbourne North home in October 2017.
Investigators seized various drugs including meth, MDMA, heroin, speed, cocaine, valium, Xanax and more than half a kilo of ephedrine – a base drug to produce meth.
Police also seized various weapons including a double-edged hunting knife, a butterfly knife, nunchucks and four handguns – three of which were loaded – a gun magazine, ammo and a ballistic vest.
Dukic was also done with a tick book and $112,949 cash.
Investigators also snared a police issue Motorola radio, several Casey Council street signs, digital scales, a safe and two ‘Senatel Magnum’ explosive sticks complete with detonators.
A Victoria Police fires and explosives member analysed a stick and quickly determined the item was an “emulsion explosive”.
The member then immediately removed both sticks and detonators from the lab as the items were “capable of exploding” and had the “potential for death and serious injury to any person within a proximity”.
Dukic, who gave a no comment interview, was remanded in custody but later bailed.
However, police caught Dukic with more drugs and cash in September 2019.
The court heard police searched Dukic’s car and home after serving the drug dealer a firearms prohibition order.
Investigators seized multiple mobile phones, $2935, a gun magazine, 1,4 butanediol, meth, and cocaine discovered in a concealed compartment under a coffee table.
Dukic was arrested and released but later remanded on November 20, 2019.
The court heard Dukic had been a star junior NSL soccer player whose bright career was shut down by a crippling knee injury.
Dukic, who had hoped for a “professional career”, injured his knee while shooting the winning goal for his team.
Dukic had surgery to repair his knee but re-injured himself and his promising career was finished.
Dukic, who completed year 12 at Hampton Secondary College, commenced tertiary education but had to quit due to his surgeries.
The court heard Dukic ran a chicken shop but the business was sold due to his escalating gambling and drug issues.
Dukic, who is serving jail time in the same prison as his father, also grew up in a troubled household, the court was told.
Judge Liz Gaynor praised Dukic for his efforts to rehabilitate while in custody.
“You are remorseful for your offending …,” Judge Gaynor said.
Dukic, who had spent 1057 days on remand, was jailed for a maximum six years.
