Scottish gang war ends after 'resolution of differences' between feuding groups

A gang war, which gripped Scotland’s central belt, has come to an end after a “resolution of differences” between those involved, according to the country’s police chief.

The feud ignited in March 2025 after two homes in Edinburgh were targeted by gunmen.

Over the next year, there were a slew of firebombings, assaults, home invasions and a bounty placed on the head of a jailed drug kingpin.

In a report to the Scottish Police Authority, chief constable of Police Scotland, Jo Farrell, confirmed that the “deeply concerning ‘war’ between rivals” has come to an end after six months.

The downturn in activity has been attributed to those involved coming to an agreement and the work of police officers

Operation Portaledge, which was launched to crack down on gang activity, responded to 84 separate incidents and resulted in 64 arrests.

Earlier this year, there was a resurgence in activity with one home on Balderston Gardens North in the capital targeted twice within 24 hours.

Skip lorry was driven into a home earlier this year STV News

In the same time period, a skip lorry was deliberately driven into a living room on Brand Drive.

A group called Tamo Junto (TMJ) claimed credit for the incident.

According to the report submitted to the SPA, Operation Portaledge responded to ten further incidents, with five individuals arrested.

Gang war key figures

The Scottish feud has resulted in arrests across the world and been linked to an alleged double assassination in the Costa Del Sol.

In September last year, six months after the beginning of the war, four Scottish men, Steven Lyons, Ross McGill, Stephen Jamieson and Steven Larwood were allegedly taken into custody by Dubai police.

McGill, Larwood and Lyons were released, however, Jamieson was returned to Scotland after fleeing to the UAE in 2020.

The 43-year-old was involved in serious and organised crime through the sale and supply of etizolam, cocaine, and heroin between March and May 2020.

His involvement was identified during the ongoing examination of data recovered from EncroChat infiltration.

Jamieson was jailed for six years and issued a four-year Serious Crime Prevention Order upon his release.

Lyons, a high-ranking member of the Glasgow-based Lyons crime group, was later arrested after arriving in Bali following a major operation led by the Spanish Guardia Civil.

Steven Lyons was arrested in Bali as part of a major operation. STV News

He has since been extradited to the country via Amsterdam and is linked with a number of charges related to organised crime, including his alleged involvement in a 2024 murder.

In May 2025, his brother, Eddie Lyons Jnr, was gunned down at Monaghans Irish Bar in Fuengirola, Spain.

Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Junior were shot dead in Spain in May last year. STV News

Associate Ross Monaghan, who owned the premises, was also killed in the shooting. Police Scotland believes the incident is not related to the central belt feud, but Spanish detectives say it is linked to the Daniels family, a group understood to be involved with the war.

Merseyside man Michael Riley, 44, was charged in connection was charged in connection with the killings and extradited to Spain.

Larwood travelled to Indonesia alongside Lyons; however, he evaded capture and is now on the run alongside fellow Scot Lewis Wark.

McGill, understood to be the former leader of the Rangers ultra group, the Union Bears, is believed to be a high-ranking member of the TMJ .

A bounty was placed on Mark Richardson's head — A bounty was placed on Mark Richardson’s head Police Scotland

The group previously issued a bounty on the head of the jailed Edinburgh cocaine kingpin Mark Richardson, who is believed to have been embroiled in the criminal feud.

McGill’s whereabouts are unknown.