Denpasar, Bali. Indonesian authorities have arrested a British national listed on an Interpol red notice shortly after his arrival in Bali.

Steven Lyons, 45, was detained at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on March 28 at around 11:58 a.m. local time, moments after landing in Indonesia. The arrest was carried out by a joint team from the Indonesian National Police’s International Relations Division, Bali Police, and immigration authorities.

Untung Widiyatmoko, secretary of Indonesia’s National Central Bureau (NCB) for Interpol, said the operation was the result of swift international intelligence-sharing.

“NCB Interpol Indonesia received notification from NCB Abu Dhabi regarding the movement of a red notice subject heading to Indonesia. Based on this information, we coordinated with Bali Police and Immigration to intercept him,” Untung said on Tuesday.

Lyons was listed under Interpol red notice number A-4908/3-2026, issued on March 26. He is suspected of leading the so-called “Lyons Crime Family,” an organized crime network based in Scotland.

Authorities allege the group is involved in money laundering and international drug trafficking, with distribution routes spanning from Spain to the United Kingdom.

The arrest in Bali forms part of an international crackdown dubbed “Operation Armourum,” involving law enforcement agencies including Spain’s Guardia Civil and Police Scotland.

In the same operation, European authorities arrested dozens of suspected network members a day earlier — 33 in Scotland and 12 in Spain.

Indonesian officials said Lyons had fled to Indonesia before being tracked to Bali. Immigration officers, already alerted through the red notice system, coordinated with police to secure his arrest without resistance.

“This arrest demonstrates Indonesia’s commitment to combating transnational crime. Indonesia is not a safe haven for international organized crime actors,” Untung said.

The Indonesian government has decided to deport Lyons so he can face legal proceedings in the relevant jurisdiction. Two officers from Spanish authorities have arrived in Bali to coordinate the repatriation process.

Meanwhile, authorities are searching for two other British nationals believed to be linked to Lyons’ network. The individuals, identified as Steven Larwood and Lewis Wang, are not subject to red notices but are suspected members of the same criminal group.

According to Untung, both men entered Bali on the same flight as Lyons from Dubai. While Lyons told investigators they were merely acquaintances he met during the journey, Spanish authorities have indicated they may pose a security risk.

Indonesian police have issued lookout notices for the pair and requested immigration authorities to place them on a travel watchlist. Officials believe the two remain in Bali, as there is no record of their departure.

Authorities are also probing the possibility that Lyons’ presence in Indonesia was not solely for tourism but potentially linked to efforts to explore or expand illicit networks in the region.

Lyons, despite holding British citizenship, is known to have resided in Spain, where he allegedly committed multiple crimes, including involvement in recent killings in Malaga and Madrid. Spanish law enforcement has been pursuing him in connection with those cases.

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