Four of Scotland's most high profile gangland figures have been arrested in Dubai. BBC Scotland News understands that Steven Lyons, Ross McGill, Stephen Jamieson, and Steven Larwood were taken into custody on Tuesday.
Police Scotland believe all four are linked to criminality ranging from drug importation to a feud between rival criminal gangs in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The dispute has resulted in a series of assaults, shootings, and firebombings since March.
It is understood detectives have been sharing intelligence with police in the United Arab Emirates, where the men are all based. It is unclear if officers in Scotland were made aware of the Dubai raids in advance.
And it remains to be seen whether authorities will press charges or expedite the men back to Scotland, who might be considered a flight risk. Detectives working on Operation Portaledge, established in response to the gang violence, have so far made 57 arrests.
Sources have told BBC Scotland News that the significance of the Dubai arrests cannot be underestimated. One source indicated: All four are operating at the highest level of organised crime, both at a UK and an international level.
Steven Lyons heads the Lyons crime group, which has been embroiled in a violent feud with the rival Daniel clan for over two decades. Having previously survived a shooting that killed his cousin, he later relocated to Spain and settled in Dubai.
In May, two individuals associated with the Lyons group were shot at a bar on the Costa del Sol, raising further tensions related to gang activities both abroad and in Scotland.
McGill is known for his connections to a Rangers ultras group and has recently surfaced as a significant player in the ongoing violence, which escalated due to a fallout with imprisoned drug dealer Mark Richardson.
Larwood has previously aligned with Lyons and also had ties to Spain, while Jamieson is connected to Jamie Iceman Stevenson, who was imprisoned for smuggling drugs internationally.
Police Scotland has not confirmed the arrests, and the UK Embassy in Dubai has yet to comment on the matter, nor has the Foreign Office been consulted for consular assistance.
