Underworld Crime Lords Ordered to Leave UAE: Inside the Release of Notorious Scots Gangsters
Gang war kingpin Ross McGill and several feared Scottish mobsters have been released from jail in Dubai, but with strict orders to leave the country immediately. Sources close to the underworld have revealed that all four implicated crime lords have been told to exit the United Arab Emirates (UAE), signaling a decisive move by Dubai authorities to rid the country of their disruptive presence.
Ross McGill, 31, a prominent figure leading the TMJ (Tamo Junto) gang, was freed on a Saturday morning and reportedly expelled onto the streets of Abu Dhabi. Details surrounding his next destination remain unknown, though speculation points to South America, where he has established connections through James “The Don” White.
Alongside McGill, Steven Lyons, 44, a boss of the Lyons family; Stephen ‘Jimmy’ Jamieson, 42, a well-known drugs hood; and Steven Larwood, associated with the Lyons clan, were also released the previous Friday night. Each was instructed to contact their families and make arrangements to depart the UAE promptly. The dispersal saw them taking separate flights to different countries, leaving their exact whereabouts a mystery.
The crackdown in Dubai followed a dramatic early-morning raid on September 16, aimed at tackling serious and organized crime. The arrests were reportedly driven by McGill’s rising notoriety after orchestrating a violent gang war back in Scotland earlier this year. His tactics have attracted unwanted attention, especially due to his public sharing of violent videos, which likely alerted security forces.
Underworld insiders caution that the men’s attempt to lie low in Dubai was unsuccessful. Lyons and Jamieson had been long-time residents, maintaining a low profile until their associations with McGill drew them into scrutiny. In particular, Jamieson, who has been residing in Dubai since 2013 operating a business selling designer puppies, became noticeably entangled after a confrontation with McGill in a gym, placing him in the crosshairs of UAE police.
Legal advisers for the released gangsters have reportedly briefed them on the risks of extradition, raising concerns about potential repatriation to Scotland to face justice. The authorities’ decision to expel the men appears to be motivated by a desire to curb the negative publicity and lawlessness their presence generated in the UAE.
McGill’s criminal history traces back to his escape from law enforcement in 2022 after French police infiltrated an encrypted drug-dealing phone network. His ongoing feud intensified after his gang’s cocaine dealings with rival Edinburgh boss Mark Richardson went sour, sparking a flurry of violent attacks, including firebombings and shootings. The conflict has also affected the notorious Glasgow Daniel family, leading to dozens of arrests under Police Scotland’s Operation Portaledge.
Steven Lyons fled Scotland in 2006 following a lethal shooting targeting his family, which left his cousin dead and himself injured. Lyons reportedly played an intelligence role for McGill’s gang, supplying information on the movements of enemy factions but withdrew from active conflict after close associates were killed in Spain in May.
Stephen Jamieson’s prolonged absence from Scotland since his 2013 release has not kept him out of trouble. His entanglement with McGill, coupled with his unusual business activities in Dubai, illustrates the complex lives these crime figures lead abroad.
The fate of Steven Larwood, convicted for cocaine supply in 2006 and now in Dubai for an uncertain length, remains less clear amid these recent developments.
Official statements have been sparse. Police Scotland has refrained from confirming any arrests, while the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office has confirmed communication with the families of British men in UAE and local authorities. Dubai Police have yet to comment publicly on the matter.
This marked action underscores a larger message to criminal elements operating within the UAE: disruptive behavior and drawing international attention will no longer be tolerated, regardless of status and influence. The forced expulsion of these high-profile Scottish crime lords may bring a much-needed respite to simmering international tensions stemming from gang wars abroad.
