SCOTLAND’S most wanted gangster Ross ‘Miami’ McGill is now holed up in China.
The turf war kingpin, 31, jetted to Asia after he was controversially freed from prison in Dubai last month.
And the cocky ex-Rangers ultra boss, 31, grinned as he flaunted his freedom in a new social media snap weeks after his release from a hellhole Dubai jail
Sources say he is in “good spirits” amid fears he has evaded extradition over terrifying underworld violence in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
It is understood the Scot — said to be behind turf war attacks and firebombings in Glasgow and Edinburgh — initially fled to the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh.
Insiders told how he then hopped on a flight to Thailand and headed to China, which does not have a bilateral extradition treaty with the UK.
Scots cops are believed to be in the dark about McGill’s whereabouts following his brief spell in prison after a raid on his Dubai home last month.
A source said: “McGill was ordered to leave Dubai and travelled to Saudi before flying from Riyadh to Thailand and Hong Kong.
“He has now made his way to China where he has been in contact with associates back here in Scotland.
“He made the trip on his own but he seemed to be in good spirits and is pretty confident he won’t be back in custody any time soon.”
Meanwhile, Steven Lyons is thought to have returned to Spain or sought refuge in Turkey while Jamieson is the one of the four still locked up in Dubai. Larwood’s whereabouts are unknown.
We told how the Scots hoods were nicked amid a wave of similar arrests in the desert state in recent weeks.
Notorious underworld figure Lalith Kannangara – also known as ‘Bus Lalith’ – was lifted on Monday over claims he is alleged to be heading up a Sri Lankan organised criminal network.
He was nabbed as part of a joint operation involving the State Intelligence Service, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Central Crime Investigation Bureau.
It comes as the UAE and Dubai have been hailed recently for a number of arrests including Kinahan cartel member Sean McGovern who is facing extradition.
But concerns still remain over the country’s lack of transparency when dealing with wanted foreign suspects enjoying luxury lives in the sun-kissed paradise.
An insider familiar with recent events in Dubai said: “There have been other examples recently of arrests – some unconfirmed – of suspected foreign criminal, not just the Scottish guys.
“In some cases what appears to be happening is arrests are being made, suspects are held in custody and they are being released and told things could get difficult for them if they refuse to leave the country of their own freewill.
“It could be the authorities there don’t want the reputational damage that could come with a wave of high profile extraditions and they would rather just get them to leave and then it’s no longer their problem.
“The other possibility is that the authorities in Dubai and the UAE have sought information from other countries about individuals and the information hasn’t come back quickly enough, meaning they can no longer legally hold them in custody.”
We told how McGill, mob boss Lyons and convicted cocaine dealer Larwood, of Kirkintilloch, were held in custody before being freed and ordered to leave the United Arab Emirates.
Fellow gangster Jamieson – former sidekick of Jamie ‘Iceman’ Stevenson – is said to have been held for longer – but authorities in Dubai have not contacted UK counterparts about the four’s whereabouts.
Last night Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay MSP said: “It would be welcome if the UAE authorities are finally choosing to do something about Dubai being the favourite destination for international criminals and their dirty money.
“However, it’s deeply concerning if the whereabouts of these Scottish criminals is unknown.
“I’m confident that UK law enforcement is fighting hard to establish their location and bring them to justice.”
We told how McGill quit the UK three years ago and lived it up at a £2million mansion in the desert city.
He is accused of sparking violence that has rocked the Scots underworld since March.
The feud was triggered over claims McGill was ripped off with fake cash by associates of caged Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson in a £500,000 cocaine deal.
UAE officials have made no contact with UK forces about their probe.
Police Scotland previously said: “We’re not in a position to confirm any arrests.”
