BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian authorities removed a fleet of luxury vehicles Saturday from the home of controversial social media celebrity Andrew Tate, days after he was placed under house arrest following new human trafficking allegations.
Tate, 37, and her brother Tristan Tate, 36, both former kickboxers and dual British-American nationals with millions of followers on social media and a reputation for misogyny, are already awaiting trial in Romania along with two other women. They have been charged with human trafficking and forming a criminal ring to exploit women. Andrew Tate has also been charged with rape in the case.
The luxury cars seized from their home near the capital included a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, a Mercedes-Benz, a McLaren and a more modest classic red Lada. The seizures came two days after Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, raided four homes in Bucharest and nearby Ilfov county, detaining six people, including the Tate brothers. Officers also seized thousands of dollars in cash, laptops and data storage drives.
Georgiana Popa, one of the Tate brothers’ lawyers, told reporters outside the brothers’ home on Saturday that the seizures were “lawful but without basis” and were being challenged.
“The car does not belong to (the brothers),” she said, without providing any further information.
The Tait brothers appeared in court in Bucharest on Thursday as prosecutors asked to have them detained, but the judge rejected the request and placed Andrew Tait under home detention and Tristan Tait under judicial control, which typically involves restricting contact with certain people and requiring regular reporting to police. Mattea Petrescu, a spokesman for the brothers, said the Tait brothers categorically deny all the charges against them and are “resolute in proving their innocence.”
DIICOT said the new case is investigating allegations of human trafficking, including trafficking in minors, sexual intercourse with minors, forming an organized crime group, money laundering and influencing speech.
It also said the defendants used coercive “love boy” tactics to exploit 34 vulnerable victims, forcing them to produce pornographic material online for a fee, and kept more than $2.8 million (2.5 million euros) from the proceeds.
DIICOT alleges that an unnamed foreign man also sexually exploited a 17-year-old foreigner and kept all of the $1.5 million (1.3 million euros) he made from the crime. It alleges that the same man “repeatedly engaged in sexual relations and acts” with a 15-year-old girl.
Andrew Tait, who has 9.9 million X followers, has repeatedly claimed that the prosecution has no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him. He has previously been banned from various social media platforms for his misogynistic views and hate speech.
Authorities have already confiscated some of the brothers’ assets.
After the Taits were arrested in December 2022, authorities seized 15 luxury cars, 14 designer watches and cash in multiple currencies. The total value of the items was estimated at 3.6 million euros ($3.9 million), authorities said at the time. In April, a Bucharest court ruled that the prosecution’s indictment met legal standards and the trial could begin, but did not give a start date.
Last month, the court overturned an earlier decision that had allowed the Tait brothers to leave Romania while they awaited trial. Court decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
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Stephen McGrath reported from Sighisoara.
