Andrew Tate accused of human trafficking & allegations involving minors leading to Romania home raid

Following a 2022 arrest, the Tate brothers were detained for three months before being placed under house arrest.

Early Wednesday, Romanian police conducted new raids at the residence of controversial internet personality Andrew Tate, who is awaiting trial on charges including human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal group to exploit women. 

The raids, led by Romania’s anti-organized crime agency DIICOT, targeted four locations in Bucharest and Ilfov county. The investigation covers allegations of human trafficking, trafficking minors, sexual activity with minors, influencing statements, and money laundering. DIICOT stated that hearings will be held at its headquarters later.

Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, commented that while the search warrant mentions suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering, the specifics are not fully clear. Petrescu noted that Tate’s legal team is present but did not address the allegations involving minors.

Police and forensic experts were seen searching Tate’s property on the outskirts of Bucharest. DIICOT emphasized that the suspects retain their procedural rights and the presumption of innocence throughout the criminal process.

Andrew Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan Tate, 36, both former kickboxers and dual British-U.S. citizens with a large social media following, were arrested in 2022 along with two Romanian women. They were formally indicted last year and have denied the charges.

Petrescu reported that the Tate brothers have been detained for 24 hours, the maximum period DIICOT can hold them without judicial approval for an extension. No such proposal has been made yet.

Andrew Tate criticized the slow progress of the case, expressing frustration to reporters. He has claimed that there is no evidence against him and that he is the victim of a political conspiracy, having been previously banned from several social media platforms for misogynistic content and hate speech.

In April, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that the prosecutors’ case met the legal criteria to proceed, although no trial date was set. The case had undergone months of preliminary review, during which the defendants could challenge the evidence.

Following their 2022 arrest, the Tate brothers were initially detained for three months before being placed under house arrest. They were later restricted to Bucharest and Ilfov counties, and subsequently all of Romania.

Last month, a court reversed a previous decision allowing the brothers to travel within the European Union, ruling that they must remain in Romania until the trial concludes. In March, the Tate brothers also appeared before the Bucharest Court of Appeal in a separate case involving British arrest warrants for alleged sexual offenses dating back to 2012-2015. The court approved the extradition request but stipulated that it would only occur after legal proceedings in Romania are complete.