Dustin Martin’s bikie uncle arrested and faces deportation from Australia over alleged organised crime links

The uncle of Richmond superstar Dustin Martin has been arrested and faces deportation from Australia to New Zealand.

Dean Martin, 56, was the former national president of the outlaw motorcycle gang The Rebels and served on the company’s board of directors for more than a decade.

Martin, the brother of Tigers champion Dustin’s late father Shane, was also previously in a relationship with ex-Greens senator Lidia Thorpe. There was public outrage when their relationship came to light two years ago.

According to the Herald Sun, Dean has no criminal convictions but has been the subject of attention from organised crime squad detectives for some time.

His visa will reportedly be revoked due to his character.

Shane was deported to New Zealand in 2018 and was also a senior member of the Rebels. He died three years later in Auckland while his son was playing in Melbourne.

Martin was arrested on Monday and is being held by the Australian Border Force. The same outlet reports that he previously held the positions of president of the Victorian and Australian branches of the Rebels.

In 2022, Senator Thorpe revealed she had a ‘brief relationship’ with Martin, raising concerns among officials as she sat on a joint parliamentary law enforcement committee.

Martin appeared in court in 2013 for breaching the liquor licence at Sunshine’s clubhouse on Fairbairn Road. He pleaded guilty and was fined, but was not convicted.

In 2016, he also led a protest against what the organization called unfair treatment by the media and the federal government, saying its members were being smeared as drug dealers and criminals.

Recently a number of motorcyclists and other criminals have been deported from Australia to New Zealand.