BUCHAREST — Romanian police executed new raids early Wednesday at the residence of controversial internet figure Andrew Tate, who is currently facing trial for human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal syndicate to sexually exploit women.
Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, announced it was investigating four homes in Bucharest and the surrounding Ilfov area, focusing on allegations that include human trafficking, trafficking of minors, engaging in sexual acts with a minor, influencing witness statements, and money laundering. The agency indicated that hearings will take place at its headquarters.
Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, responded to the raids, mentioning that the details in the search warrant were not fully disclosed but noted that they pertain to allegations of human trafficking and money laundering. Petrescu did not comment on the issues involving minors.
A substantial number of police officers and forensic experts were seen examining Tate’s large estate on the outskirts of Bucharest. DIICOT affirmed in its announcement that throughout the criminal proceedings, the individuals involved retain their procedural rights and protections as stipulated in the Code of Criminal Procedure, along with the presumption of innocence.
Andrew Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan, 36, both former kickboxers and dual British-U.S. nationals with millions of followers on social media, were arrested in 2022 near Bucharest along with two Romanian women. Romanian authorities formally charged all four last year, and they have consistently denied the accusations.
In April, the Bucharest Tribunal determined that the prosecutors’ case against the four defendants met the necessary legal standards to proceed to trial, although no date for the trial was established at that time. This ruling followed months of preliminary hearings, during which the defendants were able to contest the evidence and case presented by prosecutors.
Following their 2022 arrest, the Tate siblings were detained for three months before being moved to house arrest. They faced restrictions related to their movement within Bucharest and Ilfov, which were eventually expanded to cover all of Romania.
Last month, a court reversed a prior ruling that granted the Tate brothers permission to leave Romania while awaiting trial; an earlier decision had allowed them to be in any country within the European Union as long as they remained inside its 27-member boundaries.
Andrew Tate, known for his misogynistic comments online and with a following of 9.9 million on the social media platform X, has asserted that the prosecution lacks evidence against him and alleges a political conspiracy aimed at silencing him. He has previously faced bans from multiple social media platforms due to his misogynistic remarks and hate speech.
In March, the Tate brothers appeared before the Bucharest Court of Appeal regarding a distinct case involving arrest warrants issued by British authorities related to accusations of sexual assault in the UK from 2012-2015. The court approved the British extradition request, contingent upon the conclusion of legal proceedings in Romania.