Romanian authorities carried out a series of raids on the homes of Andrew Tate, a social media influencer, and his associates, as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of human trafficking, rape, and money laundering.
The raids, which took place early Wednesday, were conducted by masked police officers from Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT. The agency said it was searching four properties in Bucharest and nearby Ilfov county, and that hearings would be held later at its headquarters.
Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, confirmed that the raids had taken place, but did not provide further details. Petrescu said that Tate’s legal team was present during the searches, and that they would be cooperating with the investigation.
The raids are the latest development in a long-running investigation into Tate and his associates. The 37-year-old influencer, who has amassed millions of followers on social media, was arrested in 2022 along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women. They have been charged with human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
Tate has denied the allegations, and has claimed that prosecutors have no evidence against him. He has also alleged that there is a political conspiracy to silence him, and has been critical of the Romanian authorities.
The investigation has been ongoing for several months, and has involved multiple raids and searches of Tate’s properties. In April, a court ruled that the prosecutors’ case file against Tate and his associates met the legal criteria, and that a trial could proceed.
Tate’s social media presence has been the subject of controversy in the past, with many criticizing his misogynistic views and hate speech. He has been banned from several social media platforms, and has been accused of promoting a toxic and sexist ideology.
The case against Tate has also attracted international attention, with British authorities issuing arrest warrants for him and his brother over allegations of sexual aggression in a U.K. case dating back to 2012-2015. The appeals court has granted the British request to extradite the Tates to the U.K., but only after the conclusion of the Romanian proceedings.
