Spanish Police Dismantle Scottish Drug Gang, Crime Boss Arrested

Spain - Ekhbary News Agency

Authorities in Spain have announced the successful dismantling of a significant drug trafficking network orchestrated by members of the notorious Lyons family. The operation culminated in the arrest of Steven Lyons, a 45-year-old crime figure from Glasgow, in the Netherlands. Lyons was deported from Bali on Tuesday, March 28th, after being detained in Indonesia. The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed that the Lyons' organisation in Spain has been effectively dismantled, with 14 individuals arrested across four countries and an additional 20 people currently under investigation. Officials anticipate Lyons will be transferred to Spain within two to three weeks, though extradition proceedings could extend this timeline. His arrest occurred on the same day his wife, Amanda, was apprehended in Dubai. The operation, codenamed 'Operation Armorum', also saw authorities in Turkey locate and freeze high-value assets associated with the Lyons network.

This extensive action stems from a three-year investigation conducted in collaboration with Police Scotland. The Lyons gang is accused of establishing a sophisticated criminal network spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Their operations reportedly involved a complex money laundering scheme utilizing shell companies and international financial transactions to manage millions of euros derived from illicit drug sales. The group's capacity to operate simultaneously in multiple jurisdictions, including Spain, the UAE, and Turkey, and to forge alliances with other major criminal entities, had solidified their position as a dominant force in contemporary European organised crime. Recent raids, primarily along the Costa del Sol and in Barcelona, yielded electronic devices, substantial cash sums, company documents, luxury watches, and cryptocurrency wallets.

Ekhbary.com