Spanish police ‘dismantle’ Scottish drugs gang as crime boss arrested
Spanish authorities have claimed they have effectively dismantled a drug trafficking organization tied to the Lyons family, with its leader, Steven Lyons, captured in the Netherlands after being sent from Bali. The Civil Guard reported that the 45-year-old Glasgow-based criminal figure was detained in Indonesia following his arrival from Singapore on 28 March.
The operation, named Armorum, led to 14 arrests across four nations and 20 additional individuals being probed. According to the statement, the Lyons network’s activities in Spain have been significantly disrupted, though the crime boss is expected to face charges in Spain within two to three weeks, pending extradition approval.
“We will not allow Indonesian territory, especially Bali, to become a haven or base of operations for international criminals,” said Bugie Kurniawan, head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, confirming Lyons’ deportation.
Lyons, who had a Red Notice from Interpol, was arrested in the Netherlands on the same day his wife, Amanda, was detained in Dubai. The raids involved 18 operations in the past week, targeting locations like the Costa Del Sol and Barcelona. Seized items included electronic devices, cash, company files, luxury watches, and cryptocurrency wallets.
The investigation, spanning three years, revealed a sprawling criminal network active in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It featured a sophisticated money laundering system using shell companies and global financial transactions, funneling millions from drug sales. The statement emphasized the gang’s ability to operate in multiple countries, including Spain, the UAE, and Turkey, while forming alliances with other organized crime groups.
Lyons, leader of the Lyons group, has been embroiled in a decades-long rivalry with the Daniel gang. In 2006, he survived an attack in Glasgow’s Lambhill area, during which his cousin was killed. He relocated to Spain before establishing a presence in Dubai, where he connects with the Kinahan organization. His brother, Eddie Lyons Jr., and associate Ross Monaghan were fatally shot in Fuengirola last May, with Michael Riley, a 44-year-old from Liverpool, accused of the crime.
Riley initially resisted extradition but later agreed to face trial in Spain. A Spanish National Police detective noted that the suspect was linked to the rival Daniel gang, though Police Scotland insists the killings were unrelated to ongoing conflicts in the UK.
