Klevis Gjyla jailed after crop sitting in Ferntree Gully

A cannabis crop sitter who was living in Australia illegally has been jailed after police seized more than 112kgs of the plant at two Ferntree Gully drug houses.

Police began surveilling two Pinnacle Ave units in Ferntree Gully after they were made aware of an electrical bypass set up at the properties.

A cannabis crop sitter who was living in Australia illegally has been jailed after police seized more than 112kgs of the plant at two Ferntree Gully drug houses.

Klevis Gjyla, 24, was sentenced to 16 months in prison and will be deported to the US upon his release after he pleaded guilty to cultivation of a narcotic plant in a commercial quantity, and possessing a false document at the County Court on February 7.

Court documents reveal police began surveilling two Pinnacle Ave units in Ferntree Gully after they were made aware of an electrical bypass set up at the properties, with accounts in false names in July 2018.

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Weeks later Gjyla was arrested when police raided both units seizing 54 cannabis plants and “complex” hydroponic growing equipment on August 3.

Police also discovered a fake driver’s licence with Gjyla’s photo in a ute in the driveway.

According to court documents, Gjyla, who was born in Albania but spent part of his childhood in the US, had been living in Australia illegally since January 2017 after his student visa ran out.

During this time Gjyla met a man at a gym who had offered him free accommodation to crop sit at the grow house.

In sentencing Judge Frances Hogan said the court had to deter others in the illegal drug trade in handing out her punishment.

“Were it not for people like you prepared to assist cultivators then the illicit drug trade, which does a great deal of harm in this country, would not prosper,” Judge Hogan said.

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