While Torryn Wilhelm was linked to the scheme, which led to more than $1 million in drugs weighing 83 kilograms being seized, he said he received only $700 per week from Mark Matthews who ran the operation.

The pair were behind the Alphabeast website launched in 2016 which sent steroids in the mail throughout Australia.

The site was hosted in Iceland and used Bitcoin and encryption to avoid detection, with products available for between $85 to $700.

"All orders will be discreetly & carefully packaged with no reference to the contents of the package or where it comes from," the website stated, with particular routes used to avoid detection.

Orders were directed to Matthews' almost untraceable email.

From April 18, 2018 to January 22, 2019, investigators identified 475 suspicious mail packages which contained Helix Pharma steroids sold through the website.

They were packaged in similar ways, had false business addresses and no return address, with steroids priced at nearly $170,000 seized.

Wilhelm was living with Matthews in Hoppers Crossing at the time and was spotted by investigations on three days in January 2019 posting parcels from Werribee Plaza.

The parcels and drugs were recovered and on the final occasion, he was seen getting into his vehicle and returning to his Fowler Street home.

Police raided the property on January 25, 2019, and recovered two pill presses, 71 kilograms of steroids, beakers, heaters and other chemistry items, $35,320 in cash and Australia Post parcels.

The substances in the home had a retail value above $1 million.

A computer with three screens had Matthews' email account open which showed 642 orders had been recorded that month.

Matthews declined to answer police questions but Wilhelm said he didn't manufacture steroids but helped fill vials and sometimes helped to package, post and collect parcels.

IN OTHER NEWS:

While in custody, Bitcoin which would today be valued at about $5 million was transferred from Matthews' wallet to an unknown account.

Their site was shut down.

Wilhelm spent 167 days on remand before being bailed and returned to Wodonga, and is again back in custody ahead of being sentenced.

The 30-year-old, who grew up in Wodonga, was stabbed with a shank in Marngoneet Prison and was assaulted in Port Phillip Prison.

He has no criminal history.

He recently pleaded guilty in the County Court and both men will return for sentence next Monday.