Western Bay alcohol harm-reduction officer Sergeant Nigel McGlone said Judge Philip Connell cited a lack of evidence as the main reason for dismissing the charges.
"He wasn't satisfied we proved to the standard - that is, beyond reasonable doubt - that they were using the clubroom as a place of resort and that the alcohol was for sale."
Mr McGlone said the judge noted that there was no one in the club at the time of the raid, no till or system for gathering money, and there was a sign on the wall saying alcohol was not for sale at the club.
Judge Connell also commented that the police failure to provide proof the club was an incorporated society was reason enough to throw out the charges.
The officer in charge of the case, Detective Sergeant Rob Lemoto, said it was not the outcome he was hoping for. "We're disappointed to say the least."
Filthy Few president Gary "Grub" Keleher said he had expected the judge to rule in favour of the club.
"We're happy with the result," he said. "At the end of the day, we're obviously legal."
The club had previously faced other alcohol-related charges but a hearing was never held as guilty pleas were entered in those cases. The motorcycle club was ordered to pay a $200 fine and forfeit an estimated $3000 worth of alcohol after pleading guilty to using an unlicensed premises as a place of resort for consumption of liquor in September 2011.
In April 2010 the club bar was shut down and members Dennis (Deano) Michael Pedersen, 52, and his younger brother Jeffrey Bruce Pedersen, 45, pleaded guilty to charges relating to illegal alcohol sales. They were fined $2000 each in Tauranga District Court.
During the raid police found a "tick-book credit system" in a bar area, with entries relating to members of the Filthy Few. More than 40 dozen unopened beer and RTD bottles were also found.
