Police raids across Scotland, Spain and the United Arab Emirates have exposed a direct link between the Glasgow‑based Lyons Crime Family and the Dubai‑anchored Kinahan Organized Crime Group, a connection that could reshape the United Kingdom’s illicit drug market.
From a Glasgow Feud to a Global Alliance
Since 2001 the Lyons and Daniel families have been locked in a violent rivalry that began with the theft of a cocaine consignment in Milton, north Glasgow. Over the years the feud has produced shootings, murders and a string of high‑profile arrests, most recently the 31 May 2025 killing of Eddie Lyons Jr and rival enforcer Ross Monaghan on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
Against this backdrop, the Lyons family has cultivated ties beyond Scotland’s borders. According to police investigations, Steven Lyons – the reputed head of the clan – is believed to have connections with the Kinahan Group, a criminal network headquartered in Dubai that controls a substantial share of the European cocaine trade.
Coordinated Raids Reveal an International Network
On 27 March 2026 Police Scotland and Spain’s Guardia Civil executed simultaneous raids in Glasgow and the Costa del Sol, detaining eight men in Scotland and five in Spain. Europol confirmed that the operation targeted the transport of “hundreds of kilograms of cocaine” into Scotland and a money‑laundering scheme involving several million euros, with support from authorities in the Netherlands, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
Just days later, on 28 March 2026, Steven Lyons was arrested at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport after arriving from Singapore. The Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, acting on an Interpol alert, described him as “suspected of leading an international criminal organisation and involvement in fictitious companies and money laundering.”
Two days after his Bali detention, his partner Amanda Lyons was taken into custody in Dubai on charges linked to alleged offences in Spain, further underscoring the cross‑border nature of the network.
What the Kinahan Connection Means for the UK
The Kinahan Group is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most powerful drug trafficking syndicates, coordinating shipments from South America through West Africa to markets across the continent. By aligning with Kinahan, the Lyons family gains access to a supply chain capable of delivering the “hundreds of kilograms of cocaine” now being smuggled into Scotland.
For UK law‑enforcement, this alliance represents a shift from locally‑focused gang warfare to a transnational criminal enterprise that can move large drug volumes, launder proceeds through sophisticated offshore structures, and exploit legal jurisdictions across Europe and the Middle East.
Extradition and Ongoing Proceedings
Spanish authorities have indicated that Steven Lyons will face extradition to Spain, where prosecutors are preparing charges related to drug importation and money‑laundering. Police Scotland has confirmed it is working with European partners on the case, while Europol continues to monitor the wider Kinahan network for further illicit activity.
The next scheduled court appearance for Steven Lyons is set for 15 April 2026 in Spain’s Central Criminal Court.
Sources
Photo: Michal Klajban (CC BY-SA 4.0)
