Steven Lyons Arrested in Bali and Set for Deportation
Steven Lyons, one of Scotland's most notorious gangland figures, is scheduled for deportation to Spain following his arrest at Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. Lyons was detained on Saturday shortly after arriving on a flight from Singapore.
The arrest coincided with the detention of his wife, Amanda Lyons, in Dubai. Both are wanted in connection with alleged offences committed in Spain.
Indonesian authorities confirmed that Lyons, who was subject to an Interpol alert, will be deported on Wednesday. Untung Widyatmoko, secretary of Interpol's Indonesia bureau, informed reporters that Lyons' criminal organisation operates across multiple countries, including Spain, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Turkey.
Authorities in Bali are also searching for two associates who arrived with Lyons but managed to evade capture.
Joint Scottish-Spanish Raids Target Lyons' Network
On the preceding Friday, coordinated operations by Scottish and Spanish police targeted alleged members of Lyons' group. Simultaneous raids took place in Bellshill, Glasgow, Gartcosh, Whitburn, Caldercruix, Cumbernauld, Coatbridge, Barcelona, and the Malaga area.
Steven Lyons leads the Lyons clan, which has been embroiled in a violent feud with the rival Daniel group for over two decades.
Earlier this month, reports emerged that Lyons had been arrested in Bahrain, five months after his release from custody in Dubai. His whereabouts remained unclear until his recent arrival in Indonesia.
Upon arrival, Lyons was stopped in the international arrivals area and handed over to the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Area Resort Police. He is currently detained at the airport's detention centre.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office said:
"Based on intelligence data, SL is strongly suspected of being the leader of an international criminal organisation. He is suspected of being the mastermind behind the operation of several fictitious companies and of being involved in money laundering."
A Police Scotland spokesperson stated:
"We are aware of the arrest of a Scottish nominal in Bali and we are working closely with European partners."
Background on Steven Lyons and Criminal Activities
In 2006, Lyons survived a shooting at a garage in Lambhill, north Glasgow, which resulted in the death of his cousin, Michael Lyons.
Following this incident, Lyons relocated to Spain before eventually settling in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Lyons has established criminal connections including ties to the Dubai-based Kinahan crime group. He reportedly developed a relationship with Daniel Kinahan, former boxing promoter and son of the group's founder, while residing on the Costa del Sol.
Stephen Dempster, producer of Kinahan: The True Story of Ireland's Mafia, told BBC Scotland's Scotcast that by the mid-2010s, the Lyons organisation had expanded and increased its wealth by leveraging the cartel's global network.
Recent Violence and Legal Proceedings
Last May, Steven Lyons' brother, Eddie Lyons Jnr, and Ross Monaghan were fatally shot in a beachfront bar in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol. The victims had spent the evening watching the Champions League final before being targeted by a lone gunman.
Michael Riley, 44, from Liverpool, has been charged by Spanish police with the murders. He initially contested extradition but consented in October to be transferred to Spain for prosecution.
Following the double homicide, a Spanish National Police detective indicated the suspect was affiliated with the rival Daniel gang. However, Police Scotland have stated there is no evidence linking the murders in Spain to the ongoing gang feud or suggesting the crime was orchestrated in Scotland.
Arrests and Court Appearances
The raids conducted on Friday resulted in eight arrests in Scotland and five in Spain. On Monday, nine men appeared in court as part of the joint Scottish-Spanish investigation into organised crime. Seven face drug-related charges, while one was charged with conspiracy and assault.
Police Scotland noted that the investigation predates last year's gangland feud in central Scotland, which involved a series of assaults, shootings, and firebombings.
In March, multiple properties were set on fire in Edinburgh and surrounding areas, with attacks spreading westward in early April. In response, Police Scotland launched Operation Portaledge, which has led to over 60 arrests to date.
