No conviction for Todd Riley charged in relation to Mudgeeraba meth bust

A Logan father charged in relation to an almost $5m worth of methylamphetamine discovery walked free with no convictions recorded.

Todd Douglas Riley leaving the Beenleigh courthouse on February 5, 2025. Picture: Grace Koo

A Logan father charged in relation to the discovery of almost $5m worth of methylamphetamine has walked free with no convictions recorded.

Todd Douglas Riley, 45, was arrested following an investigation prompted by the 35kg of methamphetamine found in Jemma-Lee Sales’ car on March 18 last year at Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast.

Police executed a search warrant at his address and located a large amount of cash and cannabis the same night.

The Eagleby man initially faced possessing property obtained from proceeds, but that charge was later dropped.

The father-of-three also faced possessing dangerous drugs and possessing utensils or pipes that had been used and pleaded guilty to both offences in Beenleigh District Court on Wednesday.

The court heard that cannabis leaves were found in a plastic container and in bags and a water pipe outside a caravan shared by the then 44-year-old and his partner.

Police also found a cardboard box with a warm pipe and a plastic bag with cannabis seeds inside the van, weighing 705g in total.

Judge Dzenita Balic said the case had a lack of organisation despite his ongoing cannabis problem.

“It is correct, given the nature of these circumstances, this must have been for personal possession,” she said.

“You’ve had this injury from back almost 10 years ago for what is a significant injury according to the radiology report.

“To my mind, it fits in quite nicely with the fact that you’ve been using it to alleviate your pain.”

She said Mr Riley had a low chance of reoffending as he had been prescribed medical cannabis.

She ordered a $2000 fine with no convictions recorded.

Ms Sales, the sole occupant and the driver of the Toyota Rav 4 where 35 bags of methylamphetamine concealed in imported tea packages were found, faced charges of drug trafficking, possessing property obtained from proceeds and more.

Mr Riley was not inside the car at the time of her alleged offending and was not suggested to be involved in any wrongdoing over the drugs.

Ms Sales was on bail under strict conditions but was later charged with breaching one of them in Beenleigh Magistrates Court.

Her matter was last heard in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Originally published as No conviction for Todd Riley charged in relation to Mudgeeraba meth bust