BUCHAREST, Romania — Police in Romania conducted new raids early Wednesday at the residence of internet personality Andrew Tate, who is facing trial for serious charges including human trafficking, rape, and the formation of a criminal organization aimed at exploiting women.
The Romanian anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, announced that it was examining four properties in Bucharest and the surrounding Ilfov county as part of an investigation into allegations concerning human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual activity with a minor, influencing witness statements, and money laundering. The agency indicated that hearings would take place at its headquarters later.
A spokesperson for Tate, Mateea Petrescu, commented on the raids, stating that while the charges mentioned in the search warrant are still being clarified, they include suspicions regarding human trafficking and money laundering, adding that Tate’s legal team is present. Petrescu did not address the claims related to minors.
Numerous police officers and forensic experts were searching Tate’s sizable property on the outskirts of Bucharest. DIICOT emphasized in a statement that during the criminal proceedings, those under investigation are entitled to the rights and protections outlined in the Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as the presumption of innocence.
Andrew Tate, 37, and his 36-year-old brother Tristan, both former kickboxers and British-U.S. citizens with millions of followers on social media, were arrested in 2022 along with two Romanian women. Romanian authorities formally charged the four last year, all of whom have denied the allegations.
As the brothers were escorted from their home to a police van, Andrew Tate expressed frustration to reporters about the slow progress of the case, questioning what he had done wrong.
Tate has become known for his controversial views on women, garnering 9.9 million followers on the platform X. He has claimed that there is a lack of evidence against him and has suggested that there is a political conspiracy aimed at silencing him. He has previously faced bans from several social media platforms due to his misogynistic remarks and hate speech.
In April, the Bucharest Tribunal determined that the prosecutors’ case against the four met the necessary legal standards, permitting the trial to commence, although no start date was established. This ruling followed months of preliminary discussions, during which the defendants could challenge the evidence presented by the prosecution.
Following their arrest in 2022, the Tate brothers spent three months in police custody before being placed under house arrest. Their freedom has since been confined to the Bucharest and Ilfov counties, and later, throughout all of Romania.
Last month, a court reversed an earlier decision that allowed the Tate brothers to leave Romania while awaiting trial. A decision on July 5 had permitted their travel within the 27-member European Union, but that ruling was final.
In March, the brothers appeared at the Bucharest Court of Appeal regarding separate extradition requests from British authorities, who allege sexual offenses committed in the U.K. between 2012 and 2015. The appeals court approved the extradition request, contingent upon the resolution of legal proceedings in Romania.