Sentence length rises for drug smuggler

Dimitrije Dragovic, from Thurnscoe in South Yorkshire, had his sentence increased by one year and two months after the Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The court heard police tracked Dragovic through a detailed surveillance operation that began at his home and continued to London on 14 November 2025, where he was to meet co-conspirators. The following day, he checked into a Suffolk hotel using a false name and collected a bag from a car.

In the early hours of 16 November, he left the hotel with the bag, took a taxi to the A143, and walked to a nearby field. However, upon realising he was under surveillance, he discarded the bag and attempted to flee across a river, only to be apprehended by police dogs. The seized bag contained a drone with a range of over three miles, cannabis, tobacco, mobile phones, SIM cards, dongles, and charging equipment, all of which could breach the security of HMP Highpoint, located within the drone’s range.

Ellie Reeves KC MP expressed her satisfaction with the Court of Appeal's decision stating, "I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase Dimitrije Dragovic’s sentence." She further emphasised the severity of the crime, saying, "Conspiring to smuggle a drone, phones and drugs into a prison is not a minor matter; these devices allow organised criminals to coordinate activity from behind bars, undermining the security that keeps the public safe."

She also praised the efforts of Suffolk Constabulary for their diligent surveillance work that led to Dragovic's prosecution. On 20 February 2026, Dragovic was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court to two years and two months for conspiracy to convey prohibited items into prison and breaching a suspended sentence order. On 19 August 2026, the Court of Appeal reviewed his case and increased his sentence to three years and four months.