Four major figures in Scotland’s notorious gangland conflict have been arrested in Dubai, marking a dramatic international chapter in a bitter 25-year feud. Steven Lyons, Ross McGill, Stephen Jamieson, and Steven Larwood have been detained in the United Arab Emirates since September 16.
Police Scotland links them to a range of criminal activities, including drug importation and a resurgence of gang violence across Scotland’s central belt. The arrests highlight the global reach of a longstanding rivalry between the Lyons and Daniel families, which dates back to a £20,000 cocaine theft in 2001.
The Lyons group, now led by Steven Lyons, emerged under the leadership of his father Eddie Lyons from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. The Daniel clan, once headed by millionaire Jamie Daniel of Glasgow, is currently led by his nephew, Steven “Bonzo” Daniel. The rivalry has seen numerous violent attacks, including the 2006 shooting death of Michael Lyons and multiple revenge assaults.
One of the most public episodes was the 2010 assassination of Daniel enforcer Kevin “Gerbil” Carroll in a Glasgow supermarket car park, a crime described as a calculated execution. Since Jamie Daniel’s death in 2016, violence has escalated, including a brutal assault on his successor, Steven “Bonzo” Daniel, during a car chase in Glasgow.
The feud’s recent resurgence has seen a wave of arson, assaults, and shootings spreading from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Social media has amplified the conflict, with online threats issued under the banner of Tamo Junta, reportedly led by Ross McGill, who now resides in Dubai. McGill, formerly linked to the Rangers Football Club ultras, is alleged to coordinate violence remotely.
Links between the Lyons gang and the Dubai-based Kinahan cartel further complicate the landscape. Steven Lyons has connections with Daniel Kinahan, founder of the cartel, expanding the gang’s criminal network internationally. Dubai’s lenient financial regulations have made it a hub for such criminals.
A violent incident in Spain, where Eddie Lyons Jr. and associate Ross Monaghan were murdered, added to the turmoil. While initially thought connected to the feud, authorities later stated no direct link had been established.
Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell has vowed to pursue those orchestrating violence abroad, working with the National Crime Agency and Crown Office to potentially extradite suspects from Dubai. However, cooperation challenges remain due to concerns about human rights and legal protections in the UAE.
As the investigation continues with multiple arrests under Operation Portaledge, the fate of the four men detained in Dubai remains uncertain, drawing intense scrutiny from law enforcement and the public alike.
