A drug dealer has been jailed after a meticulous investigation linked him to a string of organised criminality involving firearms, Class A drugs and money laundering.
Nottinghamshire Police’s dedicated County Lines unit and County CID detectives worked together on separate strands of the investigation to bring 22-year-old JJ Logan Cross to justice.
Cross, of Camrose Close, Bilborough, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday (26 January) where he was jailed for nine years.
Officers launched an investigation into Cross in September 2021 after intelligence revealed he could be involved in a County Lines organised crime group – using a dedicated mobile phone line to sell Class A drugs within Nottinghamshire and across county borders.
Two months later, a box containing a sawn-off shotgun, three other firearms and ammunition were found in a garage in Beeston.
County CID detectives found Cross’ fingerprint on the box and components of his DNA were discovered on two of the weapons.
A further lock-up garage in Wollaton had already been linked to him by the County Lines team and when it was searched in February 2022 further ammunition, a large amount of Class A drugs, cash and a stolen motorbike were found.
Cross was arrested and charged with four counts of possession of firearms, three counts of possession of ammunition, one count of possession of heroin with intent to supply, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to supply one count of possession of the criminal property. He pleaded guilty in December last year.
Detective Inspector Nikki Smith, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a great piece of investigative work by two police teams working closely together.
“The officers’ skill and dedication have resulted in us taking potentially lethal firearms and large quantities of drugs off the streets.
“After today’s sentencing, it has also allowed us to put this individual behind bars for a significant amount of time.
“The hefty sentence handed down to Cross sends a clear message to other organised criminals operating in the area and causing misery in our communities.
“The severity of his offences should not be underestimated, and the quantities of drugs we are talking about here are substantial.
“The fact that Cross also possessed lethal firearms shows his complete disregard for public safety.
“We continue to work relentlessly to crack down on weapon-enabled and drug-related crime and to reduce the availability of firearms and drugs in our neighbourhoods.
“We treat all such reports with the utmost severity and will always do everything in our power to keep people safe and take action against anyone found to be breaking the law.”
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