Four of Scotland’s most notorious gangland figures have been arrested in Dubai in a major international police operation. BBC Scotland News confirmed that Steven Lyons, Ross McGill, Stephen Jamieson, and Steven Larwood were taken into custody on Tuesday.
Police Scotland believe all four men are linked to organised crime, including large-scale drug trafficking and a violent feud between rival gangs in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The long-running dispute has triggered shootings, firebombings, and assaults since March.
Police Coordination With UAE Authorities
Detectives in Scotland have been sharing intelligence with Dubai Police as part of Operation Portaledge, which has already led to 57 arrests. It remains unclear whether the men will face charges in the UAE or be extradited back to Scotland. Officials said all four are considered major figures in UK and international organised crime.
Key Figures in Scotland’s Gangland Feud
Steven Lyons, head of the Lyons crime group, has been locked in a bloody rivalry with the Daniel clan for over 20 years. He survived a 2006 shooting in Glasgow that killed his cousin before relocating to Spain and later Dubai.
In May, his brother Eddie Lyons Jnr was shot dead in Spain, alongside Ross Monaghan, in what Spanish authorities described as a gangland execution.
Ross McGill, once linked to the Rangers ultras group Union Bears, has emerged as a central figure in the latest feud. His conflict with Edinburgh drug dealer Mark Richardson, currently imprisoned, has fueled a new wave of violence.
Stephen Jamieson is known for his connections to Jamie “Iceman” Stevenson, who was jailed for attempting to smuggle £100m worth of cocaine from South America. Larwood, another close associate of Lyons, has lived in both Spain and Dubai.
International Reach of Scottish Crime Networks
The arrests highlight the global reach of Scotland’s criminal underworld. Police say the Lyons group and its associates have moved operations abroad to avoid detection, with Dubai becoming a hub for their activities.
Authorities in Scotland have not yet confirmed the arrests, and the UK Embassy in Dubai has declined to comment. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has not been approached for consular assistance.
