OFF THE WIRE
Filthy Few gang headquarters on Birch Ave. Photo / File.
Tauranga's Filthy Few motorcycle gang has been accused of running an illegal bar at its headquarters.
The charges emerged following a public stand-off between the Filthy Few and rival gang the Greasy Dogs in February.
While investigating the incident, police searched the gang's Birch Ave headquarters in Judea where they found saw what appeared to be a bar, prompting a full search under the Sale of Liquor Act 1989.
Alcohol harm prevention officer for the Western Bay of Plenty Sergeant Nigel McGlone said police seized 66 dozen bottles of beer, RTD drinks and soft drinks, along with what appeared to be a "tick-book" and $160 cash from a till tray.
"There's a physical bar, like you would find in a tavern, with fridges," Mr McGlone said.
Police also took photographs of indoor rubbish bins and wheelie bins filled with empty alcohol bottles.
The club, which faced three charges of breaching the Sale of Liquor Act in Tauranga Registrar's Court yesterday, was remanded without pleas for two weeks for further disclosure and to obtain legal advice.
The matter is due to be recalled in court on June 1. Mr McGlone said when police visited the gang pad in February there was an area set up like a bar with leaners, bar stools and a pool table near the bar itself and fridges of packed with alcohol.
Other boxes were allegedly stored on the premises.
Mr McGlone said police could not pinpoint a particular person for selling the liquor and the club as a whole faced charges of unlicensed people keeping liquor for sale, keeping a place of resort (bar) for the consumption of liquor and being an unlicensed person approved liquor for sale.
The penalties range from $20,000 to $40,000.
If the club applied to Tauranga City Council for a liquor licence, Mr McGlone said police would oppose it on the grounds they were an "organised criminal gang".
"We would oppose it for sure but as part of that process it would have to go before the liquor licensing authority. They've never made an appeal to get a licence, not in the five years that I've been doing this job. They're not suitable to hold a liquor licence."
A member of the club spoken to by the Bay of Plenty Times would not comment on whether they had ever applied for a liquor licence or if they would consider doing so while the matter was before the court.
http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/local/news/filthy-few-gang-accused-of-running-illegal-bar/3952438/