Key Points
- Steven Daniel, 46, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act and the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act.
- Daniel was arrested during a 6am BST raid at his home in Robroyston, North Glasgow, as part of Operation Venetic.
- Steven Gordon, 38, was arrested in a simultaneous raid in Garthamlock and charged with organised crime, firearms and drugs offences, and conspiracy to murder.
- Neither man entered a plea. Both were remanded in custody and are expected to return to court within eight days.
- More than 60 arrests have been made in Scotland under Operation Venetic since 2020, following law enforcement’s decryption of an encrypted communications network.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) August 28, 2026 — Steven Daniel has appeared in court in Glasgow charged in connection with serious and organised crime alongside drugs offences following an early morning police operation.
Daniel, aged 46, was taken into police custody at approximately 06:00 BST on Wednesday after officers executed a targeted raid at his home address in the Robroyston area, situated in the north of Glasgow. The arrest forms part of Operation Venetic, a major United Kingdom-wide law enforcement operation directed at dismantling serious organised crime networks across the country.
Daniel made no plea when he appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court. He faces four distinct charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act, in addition to a further charge under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act. The court remanded Daniel in custody, and he is scheduled to make a secondary court appearance within the next week.
What Charges Does Co-Accused Steven Gordon Face?
In a coordinated action, Police Scotland officers executed a simultaneous warrant four miles away in the Garthamlock district of Glasgow, resulting in the arrest of a second man, 38-year-old Steven Gordon.
Gordon appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on the same day as Daniel. He likewise made no plea to multiple charges brought against him, which include serious and organised crime offences, firearms violations, drugs offences, and conspiracy to murder. Gordon was also remanded in custody pending his next scheduled court appearance.
Following the judicial proceedings, Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Dave Ferry issued a public statement outlining the force’s stance on high-level criminality. Ferry stated that Police Scotland will continue to take strong action and to 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.
How Was Operation Venetic Executed Across Scotland?
The recent court appearances mark a continuation of Operation Venetic, which stands as one of the largest and most significant law enforcement initiatives conducted in the United Kingdom.
The nationwide operation was initiated after international law enforcement bodies and the National Crime Agency successfully penetrated EncroChat, a encrypted communications platform heavily utilised by criminal syndicates to coordinate illicit activity. The compromise of the server infrastructure enabled police agencies to monitor real-time message traffic, access historical data, and gather intelligence regarding high-level criminal enterprise.
Since the initial access was gained in 2020, the Scottish arm of Operation Venetic has yielded more than 60 arrests. Law enforcement authorities have described the scale and overall success of the operation as unprecedented, leading to the seizure of illicit substances, illegal firearms, and significant quantities of criminal cash across Scotland.
Background of the Particular Development
The arrest of Steven Daniel occurs against a long-standing history of criminal rivalry within the West of Scotland. Members of the Daniel family have been involved in an ongoing, violent gangland feud with the rival Lyons clan that has spanned 25 years.
This multi-decade conflict has previously resulted in numerous targeted shootings, violent assaults, and high-profile judicial proceedings throughout Glasgow and the surrounding regions. The feud has drawn consistent attention from law enforcement agencies, leading to targeted policing strategies aimed at mitigating public risk and disrupting the operational capabilities of both groups.
The integration of intelligence obtained through Operation Venetic has enabled authorities to target key figures connected to these historical networks, shifting the dynamics of long-established criminal conflicts through formal legal processes and judicial remands.
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Prediction: How This Development Can Affect the Local Community and Public Safety
The arrest and remanding in custody of high-profile figures under Operation Venetic are likely to produce immediate and long-term structural impacts on public safety and local communities in North Glasgow.
In the short term, the removal of key individuals from active operational roles can cause temporary disruption to illicit supply chains, particularly regarding controlled substances and illegal firearms trade in areas like Robroyston and Garthamlock. Local residents may experience a visible increase in proactive policing and enforcement actions as law enforcement continues to process intelligence gathered from encrypted channels.
In the long term, significant enforcement actions often create power vacuums within regional criminal structures. While the disruption of established networks aims to reduce overall gang-related violence, law enforcement agencies must remain vigilant against potential secondary disputes as subordinate or external groups attempt to fill newly vacated positions. For the broader public, sustained prosecutions under Operation Venetic serve to dismantle long-running criminal feuds, potentially lowering the frequency of violent public incidents associated with historic gang rivalries.
