Tony Males guilty to cannabis trafficking in Bendigo Court after being caught driving while using his mobile

A California Gully marijuana “mule” who was hiding a samurai sword and thousands in cash was busted in the midst of a delivery after cops saw him using his phone while behind the wheel.

Tony Males, 43, pleaded guilty at Bendigo Court to trafficking cannabis. Picture: Facebook.

A California Gully man was busted trafficking drugs mid-delivery, after cops nabbed him by chance in an unrelated traffic stop.

Tony Males, 43, pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on March 18 to cannabis trafficking, after he was busted using his phone while driving to a delivery Echuca.

The court heard Males admitted to undertaking deliveries of cannabis across northern Victoria — going as far as Echuca on some occasions — between May and July last year.

An ongoing police investigation saw Males attend an address in Jonourton on multiple occasions between May and July 2024.

On July 4 last year, cops saw Males using his phone while behind the wheel on Axedale-Goornong Rd.

Males was busted on a delivery run after cops saw him driving while using his phone.

After he was intercepted, cops searched his car, discovering two large black garbage bags containing 2.73kg of cannabis.

Police later searched Males’ California Gully home where they found 10 further vacuum sealed bags of 945g of cannabis, as well as a double edge blade, $1150 in cash, live firearm ammunition and a samurai sword.

An analysis of Males’ phone also found evidence of trafficking in his text messages, where he agreed to deliver “packages” on multiple occasions.

On Tuesday, the court heard Males had functioned as a “mule” in a “large scale operation”.

His lawyer told the court Males “saw the arrest as an opportunity for him to turn his life around”.

Males was sentenced to a 24-month community corrections order with conviction.

He was also ordered to pay a $2500 fine.