Controversial social media star Andrew Tate reportedly detained as Romanian home raided amid human trafficking allegations

  • Updated
  • 30/12/2022

Warning: This story contains material that may disturb some people.

Controversial social media star Andrew Tate's Romanian home has reportedly been raided by authorities following an investigation into human trafficking and rape.

He, his brother Tristan and a former policewoman are said to have been detained.

Local media report the Tate brothers are accused of forming a criminal group, rape, and abducting two women.

A Romanian news broadcast shows the social media star being escorted by masked authorities into a vehicle.

It's reported the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) prosecutors were at Tate's home for more than five hours.

Controversial social media star Andrew Tate reportedly detained as Romanian home raided amid human trafficking allegations
Photo credit: Reuters

A spokesperson for Tate told DailyMail.com: "We cannot provide any details at the moment regarding alleged reports that they have been detained; however, Andrew and Tristan Tate have the utmost respect for the Romanian authorities and will always assist and help in any way they can".

In a statement released by DIICOT, it said five homes were searched in relation to an investigation of an organised criminal group, human trafficking and rape.

DIICOT hasn't officially confirmed that the Tate brothers are involved.

A translation of DIICOT's statement reads: "At the beginning of 2021, 4 suspects (two British citizens and two Romanian citizens) constituted a criminal group organized in order to commit on the territory of Romania, but also of other countries, such as the United States of America and Great Britain, of the crime of human trafficking."

DIICOT says victims were "recruited" by British citizens who "misrepresented" their intention "to enter into a marriage/cohabitation relationship and the existence of genuine feelings of love (the loverboy method)".

"They were later transported and housed in buildings in Ilfov county where, by exercising acts of physical violence and mental coercion (through intimidation, constant surveillance, control and invoking alleged debts), they were sexually exploited by group members by forcing them to perform demonstrations pornographic for the purpose of producing and disseminating through social media platforms material having such a character and by submitting to the execution of a forced labour."

DIICOT added six people have been identified as victims of sexual exploitation by the organised criminal group.

DIICOT says the rape crime is in relation to March 2022 when a person was "forced" on two separate occasions by a suspect through physical violence and "psychological pressure" to have sexual relations.

"Four people who are reasonably suspected of being involved in criminal activity were taken for questioning. Following the hearings, the prosecutors of the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism - Central Structure ordered the 4 persons to be detained for a period of 24 hours" DIICOT said.

Controversial social media star Andrew Tate reportedly detained as Romanian home raided amid human trafficking allegations
Photo credit: Twitter @Cobratate

Tate's controversial past:

Earlier this year Tate, or as some have labelled him, "the king of toxic masculinity", rose to fame with his radical views on women, relationships, and masculinity, influencing young boys all over the world.

"In the modern world, they are going to call you sexist and misogynistic, but I am none of those things," Tate said in one video.

"If you don't believe in depression, you can't become depressed, and I refuse to believe in something that's going to weaken me," he said in another.

Tate himself said one reason why he moved to Romania was that he believes their police are less likely to pursue sexual assault allegations.

He's also said rape victims should bear some responsibility and that younger women are better to have sexual relationships with.

"A 19-year-old just out of high school might have had one guy from high school. She's fresh and I can make an imprint on her," he said.

More recently Tate and climate activist Greta Thunberg went at each other on social media after he attempted to get under the Swedish activist's skin by boasting about how many cars he had.

"Hello @GretaThunberg I have 33 cars," he wrote. "My Bugatti has a w16 8.0L quad-turbo. My TWO Ferrari 812 competizione have 6.5L v12s. This is just the start.

"Please provide your email address so I can send a complete list of my car collection and their respective enormous emissions."

But Thunberg was quick to take Tate down a notch.

"Yes please do enlighten me. Email me at smalld**kenergy@getalife.com," she said in response.

The 36-year-old responded to Thunberg's tweet by using one of her most well-known catchphrases, "How dare you[?]," which she said at the UN's Climate Action Summit in 2019.

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