Masked police officers in Romania conducted new raids at the residence of controversial internet personality Andrew Tate, who is facing charges of human trafficking, rape, and leading a criminal group to exploit women. Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, mentioned it was searching four properties in Bucharest and Ilfov county to investigate alleged crimes including human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual relations with a minor, influencing statements, and money laundering. The agency stated that subsequent hearings would take place at its headquarters.
Andrew Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, responded to the raids by acknowledging suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering indicated in the search warrant. However, Petrescu did not comment on the accusations related to minors. She mentioned that Tate’s legal representatives were present during the raids. Numerous police officers and forensic experts were seen searching Tate’s extensive property in the outskirts of Bucharest. DIICOT emphasized that the individuals under investigation were entitled to procedural rights and the presumption of innocence throughout the legal process.
Andrew Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan, 36, both former kickboxers with a significant online following, were arrested in 2022 near Bucharest alongside two Romanian women. The quartet was formally charged by Romanian prosecutors last year and have consistently denied the allegations. As they were being escorted into a police van, Andrew Tate complained to reporters about the slow progress of the case, questioning the validity of the charges against him.
Andrew Tate, known for his controversial online commentary and banned from several social media platforms for hateful content, has claimed that prosecutors lack evidence and are part of a political scheme to silence him. In April, the Bucharest Tribunal determined that the prosecutors’ case against the defendants met legal requirements for a trial to proceed, but did not set a specific date. Following their arrest, the Tate brothers underwent various legal constraints before a court overturned a decision permitting them to leave Romania while awaiting trial.
In a separate legal matter, the Tate brothers appeared in the Bucharest Court of Appeal regarding extradition proceedings to the UK based on allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to 2012-2015. The British request to extradite the brothers was granted, contingent upon the conclusion of legal proceedings in Romania. The case has garnered significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the Tate brothers and the serious charges they are facing.
