Drugs found on Hume Highway likely linked to organised crime: police

Officers pulled over a Holden Crewman being driven by Benjamin Worters on the Hume Highway at Barnawartha on May 12.

A search found 25 bags of cannabis, which have since been weighed at 22.57 kilograms and found to be of high quality.

Police estimate it had a rough street value of $450,000 if sold in $20 gram lots.

Worters has been in custody since the vehicle interception, and made his second bail application in the Wodonga Magistrates Court this week.

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Detective Leading Senior Constable Ian Deverell said the drugs likely came from a large hydroponic setup in a home as cannabis generally can't be grown in the bush at this time of year.

The court heard Worters refused to hand over the password to two phones in the vehicle, which was towing a horse float in an alleged bid to avoid detection.

"The scale and amount in his possession is usually linked to organised crime," the detective said.

"It's not a kilo your honour ... it's a large amount.

"It would suggest other people would be involved."

The accused man's brother owns the car, and told police he was "old school" and wouldn't make a statement.

Police are analysing phone records and other information to determine Worters' alleged role in the offending.

He said he didn't know the drugs were in the car.

The court heard he had told police different stories about where he was heading, first saying Albury and then Sydney.

"He was evasive when we spoke to him and was not willing to talk to investigators," Detective Leading Senior Constable Deverell said.

The court heard Worters, who is on a pension, also had $5571 in cash.

Defence lawyer James McKenzie sought bail to a home in Lucknow in Gippsland.

He noted his client denied knowledge of the drugs, which he said was an issue in the case.

Magistrate Ian Watkins refused the 43-year-old's bail application.

Worters will return to the court on June 16.

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