Man caught with 22kg of cannabis on Hume Highway now out of jail

Benjamin Worters was locked up for 120 days after being caught driving north on the Hume Highway, about five kilometres south of the Wodonga exit, on May 12.

Police checked the Holden Crewman he was driving, which belonged to his brother, and found 22.57 kilograms of the drug.

The marijuana was in 50 bags which were stuffed into other bags, and a search also found $5805 in cash.

The Wodonga Magistrates Court on Wednesday heard the stash would be worth about $450,000 if sold in gram deals worth $20 each.

But charges of trafficking were dropped, with Worters instead pleading guilty to possession and proceeds of crime offences.

He had claimed in earlier court proceedings that he didn't know the drugs were there.

Police had considered whether his brother was also involved, given his vehicle was used, but no evidence was found.

The court heard Worters had been a heroin addict until he stopped using in 2009, and had many prior offences on his criminal record as a result of his addiction.

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The disability pensioner was released from custody on September 8 following a Supreme Court bail application.

Magistrate Peter Mithen said despite the large amount of cannabis involved, Worters wouldn't be going back to jail.

"People want drug traffickers to pay the price," he said.

"It's such a scourge in the community.

"You're now not facing that charge."

Mr Mithen instead imposed a community corrections order for the next 12 months.

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