A man caught with a cache of homemade “zip” guns and ammunition in his house has been jailed for five years.
The haul was discovered when police, acting on intelligence, carried out a search of Salvatore Lupi’s flat in Glasgow.
Lupi, 38, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh after pleading guilty to having nine home-made bore “zip” guns “without the authority of Scottish ministers” in October last year.
He also admitted two charges of having ammunition without a firearms certificate.
Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “This was an important recovery of weapons and ammunition that had the potential to cause significant harm on our streets.
“These weapons have now been taken out of commission and Salvatore Lupi will spend time in prison as a consequence of his crimes.
“This case underlines our commitment to continue working with the police and other agencies to ensure that these crimes are detected and those responsible prosecuted using all measures at our disposal.”
The court heard that the police search of Lupi’s flat uncovered firearms in a cupboard in the hallway and in a TV unit drawer in his living room as well as a total of 20 rounds of hollow-point ammunition.
Officers also found eight metal poles in polythene bags which were in the cupboard along with other pieces of metal that had been threaded together to make a firing pin.
When the pieces of metal tubing were screwed together, the resultant devices were smooth-bore zip type guns designed to discharge a 12-bore shotgun cartridge.
The eight poles were tested and all successfully fired a 12-bore primed shotgun cartridge.
The court heard that police intelligence confirmed that Lupi was storing the items for a male known to be involved in serious and organised crime, although no direct links were found between the pair.
Under the terms of the Firearms Act 1968, the nine “zip” guns found in Lupi’s flat constitute a firearm and possession requires the written authority of the Secretary of State or a Scottish Minister.
No such certificates were found to have been authorised.