Norwegian Teen Arrested in UK After Allegedly Travelling Abroad for Organised Crime ‘Hit’ With Guns and Ammunition

A 19-year-old Norwegian teenager allegedly travelled to the United Kingdom on an emergency passport to carry out a planned assassination for a Swedish organised crime group, a court in London has heard.

Johannes Natland was arrested in March 2025 inside a hotel room in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, where police discovered two functioning firearms and 19 rounds of live ammunition.

Natland has pleaded guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition but has denied a charge of conspiracy to murder. His trial opened at the Old Bailey, where prosecutors outlined allegations that he was recruited by the Foxtrot Network, a Swedish organised crime group allegedly linked to criminal activities across Europe.

Prosecutor Alistair Richardson told the court that the teenager was allegedly sent to the UK as a hired gun, claiming that the motive was financial gain rather than any personal connection to a potential target.

“We do not know who the defendant was planning to murder, but his messages showed it was clear that his plan was to murder,” Richardson told the jury.

“He neither knew, nor cared, who he was to kill. To him, this was all about the money.”

Messages Reveal Alleged Mission

During the trial, jurors were shown messages exchanged between individuals using the usernames “Agent 47” and “Generalen”.

One message allegedly sent by Agent 47 requested an assassin for an urgent operation in Europe and referenced a payment of €25,000.

Natland was also shown to have sent a message asking: “Who is to be shot?”

Prosecutors told the court that he later informed his girlfriend he was travelling to England for a “crazy mission”, while expressing uncertainty about whether the assignment was genuine.

He reportedly told her: “Wish me luck, I hope it’s not a scam.”

Journey From Norway to Huddersfield

The court heard that Natland travelled from Stavanger Airport in Norway to Manchester on 17 March 2025.

Upon arrival, Border Force officers reportedly became concerned after finding that he had no confirmed accommodation, no return ticket and only £40 in cash.

Although he was initially refused entry into the UK, he was allowed temporary admission pending a planned return flight to Norway.

The following day, prosecutors said he travelled by taxi to Huddersfield, where he checked into Briar Court Hotel for three days, allegedly following instructions from Agent 47.

After collecting the firearms and ammunition, he reportedly received a message stating: “We have much to do tomorrow.”

The teenager was allegedly told he would receive payment after completing the assignment.

Arrested Before Alleged Attack

Natland was arrested around 5:15am on 19 March by specialist firearms officers.

The court heard that during the arrest, he raised his hands and mimicked firing a weapon at officers, an action prosecutors said could provide insight into his alleged intentions.

The prosecution argued that the teenager’s communications, travel arrangements and possession of firearms formed part of a wider plan to carry out a violent act in the UK.

The trial is ongoing, and Natland maintains his denial of the conspiracy to murder charge.