Interpol's High-Profile Fugitive Steven Lyons Arrested at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The International Relations Division (Divhubinter) of the Indonesian National Police, through the Secretariat of the National Central Bureau (NCB) Interpol Indonesia, has arrested the international “high-profile” fugitive Steven Lyons, who is listed on Interpol’s Red Notice.
The Secretary of NCB Interpol Indonesia, Brigadier General of Police Untung Widyatmoko, stated that Lyons is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice with control number A-4908/3-2026, issued on 26 March 2026.
“Divhubinter Polri through the Set NCB Interpol Indonesia has successfully carried out the arrest of the high-profile international fugitive named Steven Lyons,” said Untung in his statement on Tuesday (7/4/2026).
Untung explained that Lyons was arrested on Saturday (28/3/2026) at around 11:58 WITA at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali.
Currently, the individual has been temporarily detained at the Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) of the Bali Provincial Police.
The arrest is part of the international operation titled “Operasi Armorum,” led by the Central Operative Unit (UCO)–ECO Málaga of the Spanish Guardia Civil, aimed at dismantling Lyons’ criminal organisation network.
This operation involves several cross-border law enforcement authorities, including the Scottish Police, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Interpol, Europol, and NCB Interpol Indonesia.
Untung said that his side received intelligence information that Lyons would enter Indonesia on 28 March 2026 using Singapore Airlines on the route from Singapore to Denpasar.
Lyons is a citizen of the United Kingdom, born on 3 December 1980.
He is suspected of being involved in several serious criminal acts, including murder, narcotics, and money laundering offences (TPPU) related to a large criminal organisation network in the Málaga region, Spain.
From the investigation results, Lyons is known to have conducted cross-border criminal activities from 2020 to 2026, controlling networks in the UK and Spain.
He is also suspected of using shell companies to launder money and exploiting encrypted communication platforms such as EncroChat and Sky ECC to coordinate illegal logistics and finances.
In addition, authorities have uncovered millions of euros in fund flows allegedly derived from illegal activities, including through the hawala system, property investments, and the use of crypto assets to disguise transactions.
The criminal organisation he leads is said to have operational bases in Scotland and Spain, and is involved in smuggling various narcotics into the United Kingdom.
In a series of joint operations in Europe on 27 March 2026, local authorities also arrested dozens of network members, namely 33 people in Scotland and 12 people in Spain.