A notorious Glasgow crime boss has lost his legal battle against extradition to Spain. Steven Lyons, 46, was informed by a judge in an Amsterdam court on Wednesday that he would be sent to Spain imminently to face charges related to organised crime and money laundering.
Brother's Murder Linked to Liverpool Hitman
Lyons' brother, Eddie Lyons Jnr, was fatally shot in a Costa del Sol bar alongside another Glasgow gangster, Ross Monaghan, while they were watching the Champions League final in May 2025. Michael Riley, 45, originally from Bootle and most recently residing in Huyton, was arrested in Liverpool two weeks after the shootings and subsequently extradited to Spain.
Earlier this month, the ECHO reported that Riley had been transferred from Alhaurin de la Torre prison, a maximum-security facility in Malaga, to another prison 700 miles away. This move is believed to be a pre-emptive security measure to prevent potential conflicts if Riley and Lyons were to be held in the same facility.
Spanish Prison Transfer Reasons
A spokesman for Spanish prisons declined to comment on individual cases but stated: "Remand prisoners are normally held close to the courts which have ordered pre-trial detention. Transfers can occur for various reasons, such as an inmate's request, a court order from another locality, or suitability for addiction treatment. Security concerns may also necessitate a transfer."
Police Raids Across Europe
In March, coordinated raids by police in four countries, including the Costa del Sol and Glasgow, led to the arrest of 14 Lyons foot soldiers. Spanish police claimed to have "smashed" the Lyons criminal network. Officers from Spain's Guardia Civil used battering rams to enter multiple properties and businesses in pre-dawn raids on the Costa del Sol.
The bar where alleged Liverpool hitman Michael Riley is accused of gunning down Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan was among 18 locations targeted by Spanish police. The establishment, formerly known as Monaghan's, had reopened as the Irish Rover shortly after the incident. It has been linked by Spanish police to a bloody turf war between rival Glasgow gangs, the Lyons and Daniel clan, which has persisted for over two decades, resulting in multiple shootings and firebombings across the city.
Money Laundering Allegations
Steven Lyons will face charges in Spain related to organised crime and the laundering of criminal proceeds. A statement from the International Legal Assistance Division of the District Court of Amsterdam said: "The decision has been made to authorise the surrender of the requested person to Spain. The Court rejects the claim that the individual would not receive a fair trial in Spain."
Lyons was detained in Bali in March under an Interpol Red Notice. He was then placed on a flight to Amsterdam and held in a high-security prison before facing extradition proceedings. Spanish investigators claim Lyons, who had reportedly been on Spain's wanted list for two years, laundered upwards of £26 million.
Lyons' wife, Amanda Lyons, was also arrested in the Middle East as part of the international probe targeting a drug trafficking network and the turf war in Scotland. She was arrested at Dubai Airport just days after her husband was detained in Bali.
