Drug trafficking woman spared jail time in Melbourne

A drug trafficking 79-year-old woman has been spared jail time despite posting hundreds of packages containing drugs.

Southsada Sananikone and her daughter, Mimi Sananikone, 42, were arrested by police accused of running a sophisticated drug business from their home in Hughesdale, in Melbourne's south-east.

Her daughter was jailed for almost 18 years after being found to be the mastermind behind the operation.

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A jury found the 79-year-old guilty of being part of a drug trafficking racket.

The court heard over five weeks, Sananikone posted 255 packages on seven occasions, sending them from post offices in Darling, Oakleigh South and Murrumbeena.

Police alleged they contained illicit drugs such as methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, opium and heroin.

Sananikone has always maintained she didn't know what was in the packages.

Judge Robyn Harper said her position in the hierarchy was low but still important in Mimi's drug trafficking empire.

"I accept that you had no knowledge of the contents of the packages but it was unreasonable for you to think that your actions were not linked to illicit activity," Judge Harper told the court.

The Judge noted prison would be more burdensome for her because of her age and low cognitive functioning.

She was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order with conviction.