Spanish police ‘dismantle’ Scottish drugs gang as crime boss arrested

Spanish Police ‘Dismantle’ Scottish Drugs Gang as Crime Boss Arrested

Sheriff officers in Spain claimed they have successfully dismantled a Scottish drug trafficking group, with Steven Lyons, a prominent criminal figure, as its leader. The Civil Guard stated that Lyons was detained in the Netherlands following his deportation from Bali, where he had been residing. The 45-year-old Glasgow-based criminal arrived in Indonesia from Singapore on 28 March and was taken into custody that day.

The operation, named Armorum, involved coordinated efforts across multiple nations, including the freezing of significant assets in Turkey. A total of 14 arrests were made in four countries, with 20 more individuals currently under investigation. The Civil Guard noted that Lyons is expected to reach Spain in two to three weeks, though delays may occur if he resists extradition.

“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 issued by Interpol, was arrested on the same day his wife, Amanda, was detained in Dubai. The raids conducted during the operation included 18 searches, primarily in the Costa Del Sol and Barcelona, where electronic devices, cash, company records, luxury watches, and cryptocurrency wallets were seized.

The dismantling of the Lyons network follows a three-year investigation involving Police Scotland. Spanish authorities highlighted the gang’s extensive reach, spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with a sophisticated money laundering system through shell companies and global financial transactions. This network generated millions of euros from drug trade activities.

According to the statement, the gang’s ability to operate in Spain, the UAE, and Turkey, while collaborating with other criminal groups, established its prominence in European organized crime. Lyons, now based in Dubai, has connections to the Kinahan crime group. His cousin was killed in a 2006 shooting in Glasgow, which he survived.

In May, Lyons’ brother, Eddie Lyons Jnr, and associate Ross Monaghan were murdered in a bar on the Costa del Sol. Spanish police accused Michael Riley, a 44-year-old from Liverpool, of the killings. Riley had opposed extradition but later agreed to be sent to Spain. A Spanish detective linked him to the rival Daniel gang, though Police Scotland denied any connection to the gang war.