'Game over g!' Drug gang leader's panicked text as police descend on flats hunting for guns and grenades and evacuate 400 residents, trial hears

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The alleged leader of a drugs gang texted an associate 'game over g!' as police uncovered guns and grenades during dramatic swoops at a block of flats in Stretford last year, a jury has been told.

Nathan Morgan, 37, was said to have become 'increasingly concerned and paranoid' as a police operation continued around the flat where he lived which was said to be the hub of a cocaine and heroin supply operation.

Police made three 'significant' seizures during a series of raids in Stretford, on January 29 last year, the court heard. About 400 residents were evacuated during the operation.

First officers found a gun and two hand-grenades in a storage cupboard of a neighbouring flat at Milton Close, a block of flats in Gorse Hill.

READ MORE : Police search woodland as part of investigation into murder

Police made their second significant seizure when undercover cops followed another alleged member of the gang, Graham Wellings, 56, and found two other grenades in his backpack as he cycled through Stretford following a visit he was said to have made to Morgan's flat, jurors were told.

"It's the prosecution case that as a trusted member of the organised crime group, Mr Wellings took possession of items from Morgan who was becoming increasingly concerned and paranoid about the previous police activity," said Jamie Baxter, opening the case for the prosecution.

Morgan had summoned Mr Wellings to his flat to 'dispose of criminal items', the jurors were told.

But undercover cops watched Mr Wellings cycle away and when officers swooped they found the grenades in a drawstring bag inside his rucksack, according to the prosecutor.

Morgan's fingerprints were later found on the drawstring, the court was told.

Later the same day, officers