Arrest of crime boss is 'endgame' for Lyons gang, says ex-superintendent

The arrest of crime boss Steven Lyons is the “endgame” for one of Scotland’s largest criminal organisations, says a former police superintendent.

Indonesian authorities extradited the 45-year-old on Wednesday after his removal was delayed multiple times as police pursued an ongoing investigation, officials said.

He is believed to be the head of the notorious Lyons crime family based in Glasgow, which detectives say has played a significant role in the funnelling of drugs into Scotland, money laundering and outbursts of violence throughout Europe for decades.

Lyons was flown from Indonesia to Amsterdam early on Wednesday morning, according to the island of Bali’s immigration office.

Arrests were made in Spain as part of a joint day of action Guardia Civil

From there, he is to be transferred onward to Spain to face charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering.

Former Police Scotland superintendent Martin Gallagher believes the capture of Lyons could be the beginning of the end for the group following a year of turmoil.

He told STV News: “They’ve obviously been significantly impacted by the murders in Spain last year, now with the arrest in the far east, you’ve got one of the main players in the organisation fairly humiliated.

“You are now seeing Spanish police taking away assets and basically dismantling this crime group’s presence overseas.”

Glasgow & West

Spanish police dismantle ‘most violent Scottish crime gang’ in decades

The Guardia Civil said it had arrested 14 people in Spain, Scotland, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates as it took down the Lyons Clan

Prior to the kingpin’s arrest in Bali, police in Scotland and Spain carried out raids linked to the investigation that resulted in multiple arrests

Additional suspects were detained in Turkey, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates, including his partner, Amanda Lyons.

Although the gang’s international operations may have been significantly hampered by the joint law enforcement crackdown, Gallagher believes violence will still continue closer to home in the wake of the arrest.

He said: “We’ve still got other serious criminals at large in Scotland, and that creates a vacuum.

“As the Lyons family are taken out, others will step in to fill that void.”

Homes were also raided in Scotland during the crackdown Police Scotland

Spain had become somewhat of a safe haven for Scottish gangsters attempting to flee capture from their enemies and police.

The likes of Lyons and Ross Monaghan fled to the country after they were both targeted in shootings by a rival gang.

However, Gallagher thinks the Spanish authorities are now tightening their grip on organised crime and forcing key players, such as Lyons, out of the country.

The ex-superintendent said: “If you look at the real high-profile criminal figures, they get out of Spain.

“The go to places like the Middle East, and I think this is the Spanish now clearing house.

“Maybe the Costa Del Sol isn’t open for business for crime anymore.”