Romanian police conducted new raids early Wednesday at the residence of controversial online personality Andrew Tate, who is currently awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal group to exploit women.
The raids, led by masked officers, were part of a broader investigation spearheaded by Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT. The agency reported that four properties in Bucharest and the nearby Ilfov district were searched as part of inquiries into allegations of human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual exploitation of a minor, witness tampering, and money laundering. DIICOT added that hearings would be held later at its headquarters.
Following the raids, Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, acknowledged that while the details of the charges in the search warrant were somewhat unclear, they included suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering. However, Petrescu declined to comment on allegations related to minors.
A significant number of police officers and forensic experts combed through Tate’s sprawling estate on the outskirts of Bucharest.
DIICOT stressed that throughout the investigation, the accused are entitled to procedural rights and guarantees under the Criminal Procedure Code, including the presumption of innocence.
Andrew Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan, 36, both former kickboxers with dual British-U.S. citizenship, were arrested near Bucharest in 2022 alongside two Romanian women. Prosecutors officially charged all four last year, but the accused have denied all allegations.
In April, the Bucharest Court ruled that the prosecutors’ case met legal standards, paving the way for a trial, though a start date has yet to be set. This decision followed months of preliminary hearings where the defendants challenged the evidence and case file presented by the prosecution.
Following their arrest, the Tate brothers were held in custody for several months before being placed under house arrest. Initially, their movement was restricted to Bucharest and Ilfov districts, and later expanded to cover all of Romania.
Last month, a court overturned a previous decision that allowed the brothers to travel outside of Romania while awaiting trial, provided they remained within the European Union. The July 5 ruling, granting them EU-wide travel, was deemed final.
Andrew Tate, who has amassed 9.9 million followers on the social media platform X and is notorious for his misogynistic views, has repeatedly claimed that the charges against him are baseless and part of a political plot to silence him.
He had previously been banned from several social media platforms for promoting hate speech and sexism.
In March, the Tate brothers appeared at the Bucharest Court of Appeal in a separate case following arrest warrants issued by British authorities over sexual assault allegations in the UK dating back to 2012-2015.
The appeals court approved the UK’s extradition request, but only after the legal proceedings in Romania have concluded.