Counterfeit Glock pistol unlike any type used by Northern Ireland’s underworld, court told

The fully functioning gun and ammunition were only found concealed behind a taillight after Joshua Guvenc’s Ford EcoSport had been auctioned and taken to England.

Details emerged as he failed in a renewed bid to be released on bail.

Guvenc, of Springhill Avenue in Belfast, is facing prosecution over seizures of the money, gun and nearly £70,000 worth of cannabis.

The 34-year-old was stopped on the A1 near Loughbrickland, Co Down on March 26 last year.

An Initial examination of the vehicle recovered £165,000 in cash, vacuum packed and inside a laptop bag, along with three mobile phones and 1,000 euros Gunvenc had in his pocket, it was previously disclosed.

Follow-up searches at two houses linked to the defendant were said to have uncovered a round of ammunition, balaclava and dye-stained bank notes believed to have been taken from either a cash in transit robbery or ATM theft.

Cannabis with an estimated street value of £67,500, suspected deal bags, scales and other drug-related paraphernalia were also seized.

Guvenc has been charged with possessing criminal property, handling stolen goods, and having Class B drugs with intent to supply.

He is further accused of possessing a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances over the subsequent discovery of the gun.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard today that the vehicle, leased under the Motability Scheme, was confiscated, sold through an auction house and taken to a car dealer in the north west of England.

In June last year mechanics carrying out repairs to the bodywork located the weapon and a magazine along with up to 17 rounds of ammunition.

The gun had been hidden behind a rear taillight in the boot of the car.

An investigating detective said tests confirmed it was a counterfeit version of a Glock 9mm self-loading pistol.

“It is a live, fully functioning firearm, (but) the manufacturer Glock says it is not one of their serial numbers,” she told the court.

DNA from both Guvenc and a woman associated with him were found on the gun.

Opposing his application for bail, the detective questioned why he might need that type of weapon.

“It is not the sort of thing we normally see, even in the world of organised crime,” she added.

“It would be unusual for us to find such an item.”

Guvenc was seeking release from custody to live at a house in Ballymena, Co Antrim.

The current occupant told police he did not know Guvenc but had offered to let him stay there as a favour to a mutual friend.

Defence solicitor Mark Austin argued there could be further months of delay in the case and confirmed a significant cash surety was on offer.

“There is nothing to suggest there is a risk of re-offending,” he submitted.

But District Judge Anne Marshall rejected that assessment and refused bail to Guvenc.

Adjourning the case for four weeks, she ruled: “The public needs protection from someone who is allegedly in possession of a firearm with his DNA on it, alongside drugs.”