Scottish police arrest 15th man amid global operation targeting Lyons gang

Scottish officers have arrested a 15th man amid a global crackdown on the Glasgow-based Lyons gang.

Operation Armorum, which is being led by Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Spanish Police Force, has resulted in arrests in Spain, Scotland, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.

Among those in custody is crime boss Steven Lyons, who is currently detained in the Netherlands, having been deported from Indonesia.

Authorities in Indonesia extradited the 45-year-old to Amsterdam on Wednesday, where he will then travel to Spain.

Last week the Guardia Civil conducted 18 raids mainly on the Costa del Sol, as well as in Barcelona.

Electronic devices, large amounts of cash, corporate documentation, high-end watches and cryptocurrency wallets have been seized.

Steven Lyons is among those arrested STV News

Police Scotland executed warrants of their own in and around Glasgow during the day of action.

Cooperation with the Turkish National Police has located and blocked numerous high-value assets linked to the network in the country.

Europol, the Turkish Anti-Narcotics Police, Dubai Police, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United States have also participated in the operational phase, the police said.

Police Scotland has confirmed that officers have arrested a man in connection with serious crime offences.

The 34-year-old is due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court at a later date.

He will be the tenth man to appear in a Scottish court as part of the joint-agency crackdown.

Scott Lawlor is among those who have already appeared in court, accused of involvement in a plot to harm Raymond Anderson Junior in 2020.

He is the son of hitman Raymond Anderson, who is serving life for his part in gunning down Michael Lyons, 21, at the Applerow Motors garage in Lambhill, Glasgow, in December 2006.

Michael Lyons was killed at a Glasgow garage in 2006 STV News

The 38-year-old faced charges during a private appearance at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

It is alleged that Lawlor was involved in using the EncroChat phone network before it was busted by the law authorities.

Prosecutors alleged that – between March 30 and May 7, 2020, at an upmarket flat in the city’s West End – he conspired with another user known as Morbidsquid to commit a “serious assault and severely injure” Anderson Jr.

This is said to have involved discussing how it would happen as well as carrying out surveillance on the alleged target.