The feared Lyons clan built a web of seemingly legitimate businesses across the Costa del Sol to launder €50million, investigators have claimed.

From bars and alcohol distribution firms to car rental companies and even a minigolf venture, the network is said to have helped move illicit funds gained from drug trafficking.

The details have emerged following a major crackdown by the Guardia Civil, which carried out a series of raids linked to an alleged money-laundering network tied to the Glasgow-based gang.

It follows the arrest of the alleged ringleader of the feared gang, Steven Lyons, in Bali this month.

One of the key locations searched on the Costa de Sol was an Irish pub on Fuengirola’s seafront.

It’s the same venue where Eddie Lyons Jr., brother of the gang’s alleged leader, and his associate Ross Monaghan were shot dead last year.

Sources close to the investigation told La Opinion de Malaga that the bar – which briefly closed after the double murder before reopening under a different name – is now under scrutiny as part of a wider probe being led by a Malaga judge.

The operation has so far resulted in 14 arrests, including seven on the Costa del Sol, with around 20 more individuals under investigation.

A network of front businesses

But hospitality is just one piece of the puzzle.

Investigators believe the group used a range of businesses to launder millions in illicit funds.

Among them were companies distributing alcohol, particularly vodka and gin, a car rental firm and a minigolf business.

These ventures are thought to form part of a broader international network used to funnel proceeds from criminal activities – primarily drug trafficking – into the legal economy.

Authorities estimate the organisation may have moved around €50 million through these structures.

Global operation

The investigation stretches far beyond Spain.

Assets linked to the network have been identified and frozen in countries including Turkey, while inquiries also extend to Scotland.

At the centre of the operation is Steven Lyons, believed to be the clan’s main leader, along with his wife Amanda.

Lyons was arrested in Bali after authorities flagged an Interpol red notice, while his wife was detained in Dubai – a city where the couple had relocated after leaving Spain.

Both are now awaiting extradition to Spain, along with another suspect arrested in the UK.

Costa del Sol under pressure

The case underlines the growing concern over organised crime on the Costa del Sol, where international gangs have long used luxury lifestyles and business fronts to mask illegal operations.

For investigators, the mix of nightlife venues, tourist businesses and international finance has made the region an ideal base for laundering money on a massive scale.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.