A “self confessed drug addict” stopped by police travelling along the A1, outside Newry, could not account for €150,000 found in his car, a court has heard.
Christopher Jordan, with an address given as HMP Maghaberry, appeared at Newry Magistrates’ Court, via videolink, on Wednesday accused of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug, similarly with a Class B drug, and possessing a firearm in suspicious circumstances.
The 38-year-old was travelling along the A1 in Newry on Thursday, August, 22 when he was stopped by police.
The vehicle was searched and approximately €150,000 euros was found concealed in the vehicle. He was arrested at the scene.
A police officer told the court that Jordan made no comment during interview and “didn’t account for any of the cash in the vehicle”.
Jordan’s mobile phone was also seized from the vehicle.
The officer said: “Within the phone there were substantial evidence of drug supply concerning Class A, Class B drugs for a period of about a year, between August 2023 and August 2024 and also video evidence of heavy personal use of cocaine.
“Also in the phone there’s a video which would appear to show Jordan in possession of an Uzi type machine pistol. He stated in the interview that that was a toy gun. He was charged then with the possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances and being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs.”
The court heard how Jordan has racked up 109 previous convictions for offences including assault, theft, driving offences, drugs, possession, burglary, and one for possession of firearms or ammunition in suspicious circumstances.
The officer, in opposing bail, added: “He’s already on bail for an incident back in January 2023 when he was found in the south with £70,000 pounds in a vehicle.
“We believe that he’s in debt, as he’s lost €150,000 euros on top of the £70,000 previously lost, and we believe that the offending will continue in order to pay that debt.
“He stated during police interviews that he was homeless and of no fixed abode. On top of the possibility of a significant prison sentence, both in the north and the south, he’s also in significant debt the criminal elements.”
Jordan’s defence counsel told the court that his parent’s address was been offered up for bail.
“This is someone with a not without his difficulties,” the defence said. “He is someone that is a self confessed drug addict and just prior to being remanded into custody for this, he he had engaged and was waiting on his place for Cuan Mhuire.
“It was a 12-week program, which he had been accepted on to, but he missed that due to being remanded in the custody.”
District Judge Eamon King said: “The information gleaned from the phone would illustrate a lifestyle involved in drugs, both trafficking and use, and also suspicion in relation to access to a serious firearm.
“He’s also on bail, the court has been told, in relation to a similar type of an incident where he was stopped in possession of £70,000 in the Republic of Ireland, and there also was 109 previous convictions.”
Bail was refused and Jordan was remanded back into custody.
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