BUCHAREST — Early Wednesday, masked Romanian police officers conducted a series of new raids at the residence of controversial internet personality Andrew Tate, who is currently awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to exploit women sexually.
The raids were carried out by Romania's anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, which targeted four properties in Bucharest and nearby Ilfov. The investigation is focused on allegations of human trafficking, the trafficking of minors, sexual relations with a minor, influencing witness statements, and money laundering. The agency announced that further hearings would take place at its headquarters.
In response to the raids, Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, acknowledged that the search warrant included suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering, but noted that the charges were not yet fully clarified. Petrescu did not comment on the allegations involving minors.
Dozens of police officers and forensic experts combed through Tate's extensive property on the outskirts of Bucharest. DIICOT emphasized that the individuals under investigation retain their legal rights and the presumption of innocence throughout the criminal process.
Andrew Tate, 37, along with his brother Tristan, 36, both former kickboxers and dual British-U.S. citizens, were arrested in 2022 near Bucharest alongside two Romanian women. All four were formally indicted last year but have denied the accusations.
In April, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that the case against the Tate brothers met the legal criteria for trial, though a date has not yet been set. After their 2022 arrest, the Tate brothers spent three months in police custody before being placed under house arrest. Their movements were later restricted to Bucharest, Ilfov, and eventually all of Romania.
Last month, a court overturned an earlier decision allowing the Tate brothers to leave Romania while awaiting trial, instead ruling that they could only travel within the European Union.
Andrew Tate, known for his controversial online statements, has amassed 9.9 million followers on social media platform X. He has consistently claimed that the charges against him are part of a political conspiracy to silence him.
In a separate case, the Tate brothers appeared before the Bucharest Court of Appeal in March, after British authorities issued arrest warrants related to allegations of sexual aggression in the UK between 2012 and 2015. The court granted the extradition request, but only after the Romanian legal proceedings are concluded.
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