Romanian authorities have seized a collection of high-end vehicles owned by Andrew Tate as part of an investigation into serious new allegations of human trafficking against Tate and his brother, Tristan, who were placed under house arrest just days earlier. The luxury cars impounded from Tate's residence included a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, McLaren, and even a classic red Lada, the Associated Press reported. These seizures came in the wake of a coordinated operation by Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, which raided four properties in Bucharest and Ilfov county just two days prior.
The raids led to the detention of six individuals, including the Tate brothers , and the confiscation of cash, laptops, and data storage devices. Outside the Tate residence, Georgiana Popa, one of the defense lawyers, addressed the media, asserting that while the seizures were "legal," they were "unfounded." Popa claimed the vehicles did not belong to the Tates.
The Tate brothers, former kickboxing champions with dual British-American citizenship, have long been figures of both fame and infamy, amassing a significant following on social media. However, their public personas has been marred by serious criminal charges in Romania, where they, along with two women, face accusations of forming a criminal gang, human trafficking, and in Andrew Tate's case, rape. The latest case against the Tate brothers delves deep into allegations of human trafficking, with DIICOT investigating a web of heinous crimes, including the trafficking of minors, money laundering, and influencing statements.
The agency’s allegations are disturbing: the defendants are accused of using the manipulative "loverboy" method to coerce 34 vulnerable victims into producing pornographic content, generating over $2.8 million (2.5 million euros) in revenue, which the accused allegedly pocketed.
DIICOT’s investigation also implicates an unnamed foreign national in the sexual exploitation of a 17-year-old, from which he reportedly earned $1.5 million (1.3 million euros).
The same man is accused of engaging in repeated sexual acts with a 15-year-old, further deepening the scandal. Andrew Tate, who commands a following of 9.9 million on X (formerly known as Twitter), has been vocal in his defense, repeatedly asserting that the prosecutors' case is baseless and part of a broader political conspiracy to silence him.
Tate’s controversial and often misogynistic views have led to bans from various social media platforms. This recent seizure of assets is not an isolated incident. Following their arrest in December 2022, Romanian authorities confiscated a slew of luxury items from the Tates, including 15 luxury cars, 14 designer watches, and cash in various currencies, with an estimated value of 3.
6 million euros ($3.9 million). A court ruling last month also barred the Tate brothers from leaving Romania while awaiting trial—a decision that is now final and cannot be appealed.
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