A teenager travelled from Norway to the UK on an emergency passport to carry out a "hit" for a Swedish organised crime group, a court has heard.
Johannes Natland, 19, was arrested in a hotel room in Huddersfield with two working guns and 19 rounds of live ammunition in March 2025.
He has pleaded guilty to possession of the firearms and ammunition but denies a charge of conspiracy to murder.
During the trial opening at the Old Bailey, prosecutor Alistair Richardson said the teen was "recruited" by the Foxtrot Network, which was described as a Swedish organised crime group backed by the Iranian regime.
"We do not know who the defendant was planning to murder, but as you will see from his messages…it was clear that his plan was to murder," he added.
"He neither knew, nor cared, who he was to kill…to him, this was all about the money."
'Who is to be shot?'
The jury were then shown messages between two individuals with the usernames 'Agent 47' and 'Generalen'.
One message from Agent 47 said: "Brother, sort out an assassin abroad. Urgent. Europe". He went on to say there was "25,000 euros in the pot".
Natland sent a message to Generalen and another individual which read: "Who is to be shot?"
Another message showed him telling his girlfriend he was going on a "crazy mission".
He told her he was travelling to England and said "wish me luck, I hope it's not a scam".
On 17 March 2025, the defendant travelled on a flight from Stavanger Airport to Manchester.
Upon arrival he was detained by Border Force officials because of concerns that he had no accommodation or return ticket booked, and only had £40 in cash.
The officers refused him entry into the UK, but allowed him to come in temporarily until a flight back to Norway four days later.
The next day, Natland took a taxi to West Yorkshire and booked into the Briar Court Hotel in Huddersfield for three days on Agent 47's instructions, the trial heard.
After picking up the guns and ammunition, he received a message from Agent 47 saying "we have much to do tomorrow".
Natland was told he would receive the money "when the job is done".
He was arrested at about 05:15 on 19 March by specialist firearms officers.
The court heard he held his hands up, imitating a firearm and pretended to "shoot" one of the officers.
"You may think that of itself gives you a little insight about what he was in the United Kingdom to do," Richardson told the jury.
The trial continues.
