Crime Boss Steven Lyons Set to Be Deported from Bali to Spain

Steven Lyons, a notable figure in Scotland’s criminal underworld, is preparing for deportation to Spain shortly after his arrest at Bali’s airport. The 45-year-old was detained on Saturday following his arrival at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport from Singapore. This development coincided with the arrest of his wife, Amanda Lyons, in Dubai. Both are linked to alleged crimes in Spain, according to authorities.

Bali police confirmed that Lyons, who had an active Interpol alert, will be sent back to Spain on Wednesday. Daniel Adityajaya, the island’s police chief, described Lyons as the head of a “transnational criminal group involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.” Untung Widyatmoko, head of Interpol’s Indonesia bureau, added that the organization operates across Spain, Scotland, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Turkey.

During his recent visit, officers discovered two of Lyons’ associates who had arrived with him but slipped through initial checks. A joint Scottish-Spanish operation targeted members of the Lyons group in simultaneous raids across Bellshill, Glasgow, Gartcosh, Whitburn, Caldercruix, Cumbernauld, Coatbridge, Barcelona, and Malaga. These raids led to eight arrests in Scotland and five in Spain.

Background of the Criminal Alliance

Lyons leads the Lyons clan, which has been locked in a violent conflict with the Daniel group for over two decades. In 2006, he survived a shooting in Glasgow’s Lambhill, where his cousin Michael Lyons died. After relocating to Spain, he later settled in Dubai, UAE, where he formed ties with the Kinahan crime group. His connection to Daniel Kinahan, the group’s founder, began while living on the Costa del Sol.

A BBC Scotland report noted that by the mid-2010s, the Lyons group had expanded significantly by integrating with the Kinahan network. In May, Lyons’ brother, Eddie Lyons Jnr, and Ross Monaghan were killed in a bar in Fuengirola, Spain. The victims had just watched the Champions League final before being ambushed by a single shooter. Spanish police have charged Michael Riley, a 44-year-old from Liverpool, with the murders.

“Based on intelligence data, SL is strongly suspected of leading an international criminal organization. He is also believed to have orchestrated the use of fake companies for money laundering,” stated the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office in a recent release.

Riley had contested an extradition request but agreed to return to Spain in October. A Spanish detective later claimed he was part of the rival Daniel gang, though Police Scotland insists the killings were unrelated to the recent gang conflict in central Scotland. The ongoing feud led to numerous attacks, including property fires in Edinburgh and its suburbs in March, followed by incidents in western areas by April.

Operations and Legal Actions

Following the raids, nine individuals appeared in court. Seven face drug-related charges, while one is accused of conspiracy and assault. Police Scotland highlighted that the investigation predates the current gang war, which intensified in 2023. Since launching Operation Portaledge, the force has made over 60 arrests in the region.