Spanish police ‘dismantle’ Scottish drugs gang as crime boss arrested
Spanish authorities ‘dismantle’ Scottish drug network as key figure arrested
Spanish police have claimed to have dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate led by the Lyons family. The Civil Guard announced that Steven Lyons, a prominent Scottish criminal, was apprehended in the Netherlands following his deportation from Bali. The 45-year-old Glasgow-based gang leader was detained in Indonesia after arriving from Singapore on 28 March.
The operation, named Armorum, has resulted in 14 arrests across four nations and 20 additional individuals under scrutiny. A spokesperson for the Civil Guard informed BBC Scotland that Lyons is expected to arrive in Spain within two to three weeks, though the timeline could extend if he resists extradition. His arrest coincided with the detention of his wife, Amanda, in Dubai.
Assets and networks seized
Authorities reported seizing electronic gadgets, substantial cash reserves, corporate records, luxury timepieces, and cryptocurrency wallets during raids. These occurred over the past week, primarily targeting areas like the Costa Del Sol and Barcelona. The Civil Guard highlighted that the Lyons organization had been operating for three years, with collaborative efforts from Police Scotland.
“We will not allow Indonesian territory, especially Bali, to become a haven or base of operations for international criminals.” – Bugie Kurniawan, head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office
Criminal reach and alliances
The Lyons gang has established a criminal presence across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. A statement detailed a “complex money laundering network based on shell companies and international financial transactions, managing millions of euros derived from drug trafficking.” The group’s operations span multiple countries, including Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, with connections to other major gangs.
Lyons, head of the Lyons group, has been embroiled in a long-standing rivalry with the Daniel gang for over two decades. In 2006, he survived a shooting at a Lambhill garage in Glasgow, where his cousin lost their life. He relocated to Spain before settling in Dubai, linked to the Kinahan crime network.
Shooting in Fuengirola
Lyons’ brother, Eddie Lyons Jnr, and associate Ross Monaghan were fatally shot in a Fuengirola bar on the Costa del Sol last May. Spanish police accused Michael Riley, a 44-year-old Liverpool resident, of the murders. Riley had contested extradition but later agreed to be sent to Spain for trial.
Spanish detectives linked the incident to the rival Daniel gang, though Police Scotland asserted no evidence connected the killings to the ongoing gang conflict or Scottish planning.
