A prominent figure in Scotland's protracted gangland conflict, Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel, 46, was arrested early Tuesday morning during a police raid on his Glasgow home. The arrest is connected to Operation Venetic, an investigation that utilizes data obtained from the hacking of EncroChat, an encrypted communication platform favored by organized crime groups.
Daniel is widely considered the leader of the Daniel crime family, which has been locked in a violent 25-year feud with rivals, the Lyons clan. This internal conflict has fueled a broader gang war across Scotland's central belt, leading to numerous incidents including arson and attempted murder since March of last year.
Dozens of officers from the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit participated in the operation. Daniel was apprehended outside his residence in Robroyston shortly after 6 a.m. A second man, Steven Gordon, 39, was arrested nearby in Garthamlock under the same operation. Both are being held in connection with serious and organized crime offenses, including firearms and drug-related charges.
This development comes as authorities continue to investigate a recent garage fire in Glasgow and a car crash into a house in Eaglesham for potential links to a resurgence in gang violence. Police Scotland had announced last month that the intense period of gang warfare had concluded.
The gang war, which began in March of the previous year in Edinburgh and spread westward, saw police respond to 84 incidents of violence and disorder, resulting in 64 arrests and 55 search and arrest warrants. A spokesperson for Police Scotland stated that the enforcement action demonstrates their commitment to bringing those involved in serious and organized crime to justice. "We will continue to take strong action and use every tool and tactic available to relentlessly pursue those involved in serious criminality who seek to profit from the harm and misery they cause to communities in Scotland," the spokesperson added.
In parallel, Steven Lyons, 45, identified as a chief of the Lyons family, is awaiting trial in Spain. He faces charges related to serious organized crime and money laundering. Indonesian police had previously arrested Lyons, alleging he led a large-scale transnational criminal organization involved in drug trafficking and money laundering across multiple countries, including Spain, Scotland, and the United Arab Emirates. This followed a joint Scottish-Spanish operation that resulted in the arrest of 13 alleged members of the criminal group in Scotland, Barcelona, and Malaga.
A report to the Scottish Police Authority from Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell detailed Operation Portaledge, initiated in March 2025 to address the wave of violence. The report described a six-month conflict between rival groups, noting a subsequent downturn attributed to various factors, including internal resolutions within the criminal community, as well as the disruptive efforts of law enforcement. Officials emphasized that the impact of police and partner efforts in disrupting and apprehending offenders was significant.