Judge refuses bail after gun, cash in Motability car

TL;DR

A Belfast judge refused bail to Joshua Guvenc after police linked his DNA to a hidden fake Glock gun in his seized Motability car alongside £165,000 cash.
The fully functioning counterfeit pistol and ammunition were found behind a taillight only after the Ford EcoSport was auctioned and sold to England.
Bail denied due to risks of reoffending and public protection from alleged firearm and drugs involvement.

The story at a glance

District Judge Anne Marshall refused bail to Joshua Guvenc (34), from Springhill Avenue in Belfast, at Belfast Magistrates Court. The decision came during a hearing where prosecution revealed his DNA on a lethal counterfeit Glock pistol hidden in his confiscated Ford EcoSport Motability car, which also carried £165,000 in suspected crime cash. This follows police stopping the car on the A1 near Loughbrickland in Co Down on March 26, with related drug seizures. The case is being reported now as part of ongoing bail hearings in drugs and firearms probes.[[1]](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/crime/glock-pistol-found-in-car-confiscated-by-police-after-it-was-auctioned-and-taken-to-england-5251223)[[2]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/counterfeit-pistol-hidden-in-vehicle-transporting-%C2%A3165k-of-suspected-crime-cash-unlike-any-seen-in-ni-court-hears/a/145012741.html)

Key points

Joshua Guvenc faces charges of possessing criminal property (£165,000 vacuum-packed cash in a laptop bag), handling stolen goods (dye-stained notes), class B drugs with intent (£67,500 cannabis at his home, scales, deal bags), ammunition in suspicious circumstances (round at Mica Drive property), and attempted cannabis possession.[[1]](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/crime/glock-pistol-found-in-car-confiscated-by-police-after-it-was-auctioned-and-taken-to-england-5251223)
Police seized the Ford EcoSport (Motability leased), three phones, €1,000 from his pocket; he refused phone passcodes.
Gun: Concealed Glock 19 (counterfeit but fully functioning, unlike NI underworld types), 17-round magazine, vacuum-packed behind taillight/back panel; missed initial search as no visible concealment; DNA from Guvenc and an associated woman found on it.[[2]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/counterfeit-pistol-hidden-in-vehicle-transporting-%C2%A3165k-of-suspected-crime-cash-unlike-any-seen-in-ni-court-hears/a/145012741.html)[[3]](https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/world/mechanics-found-fake-glock-hidden-in-motability-car-after-it-was-confiscated-from-drugs-suspect-court-told/ar-AA1ZVpZY)
Car confiscated, auctioned, bought by English firm; mechanics found gun while working on it; Lancashire Police involved for forensics.
Defence solicitor Philip Breen: No gun charges yet, client not interviewed on it, no reoffending risk.
Prosecution detective: Questions need for such weapon, risk of investigation interference.

Details and context

Police stopped Guvenc's car on March 26 on the A1 near Loughbrickland, recovering the large cash haul immediately; follow-up raids at west Belfast addresses (Springhill Avenue, Mica Drive) yielded cannabis worth nearly £70,000, ammunition, balaclava, and paraphernalia indicating supply.[[1]](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/crime/glock-pistol-found-in-car-confiscated-by-police-after-it-was-auctioned-and-taken-to-england-5251223)

The Motability Scheme provides leased vehicles for disabled people or benefit recipients; using it for crime raises concerns over scheme abuse, as seen in prior unrelated cases.

This bail refusal follows earlier denials (July 2025, April 2026 hearings), with prosecution citing new gun evidence despite no direct charges; defence argues timing is unfair and concealment not proven linked to client.[[4]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/judge-refuses-bail-for-belfast-man-after-%C2%A3165000-cash-haul-and-gun-found-in-motability-car/a/145673826.html)

Key quotes

District Judge Anne Marshall: “The public needs protection from someone who is allegedly in possession of a firearm with his DNA on it, alongside drugs.”[[3]](https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/world/mechanics-found-fake-glock-hidden-in-motability-car-after-it-was-confiscated-from-drugs-suspect-court-told/ar-AA1ZVpZY)

Investigating detective: “You would need to take the car apart and there was nothing to suggest any sort of concealment at the time.”[[1]](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/crime/glock-pistol-found-in-car-confiscated-by-police-after-it-was-auctioned-and-taken-to-england-5251223)

Why it matters

The case highlights risks of hidden weapons in drug-related vehicles evading initial police checks, potentially endangering public after auction resale.

It means heightened scrutiny on bail for serious crime suspects in Northern Ireland, affecting those charged with cash/drugs/firearms.

Watch for next court date (likely four weeks post-April hearing), possible gun charges if forensics confirm, or case progression to Crown Court.[[2]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/counterfeit-pistol-hidden-in-vehicle-transporting-%C2%A3165k-of-suspected-crime-cash-unlike-any-seen-in-ni-court-hears/a/145012741.html)