Andrew Tate detained after police raid his Romanian home

Controversial influencer Andrew Tate has been detained after masked police officers raided his home in Romania.

Controversial influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate has been detained in Romania after masked police officers raided his home as part of a fresh investigation.

Tate, who is already awaiting trial over human trafficking and rape charges, and his brother Tristan, are being held “for 24 hours” for questioning by Romania’s anti-organised-crime agency, DIICOT, their spokeswoman said.

Their residence, located in the capital city of Bucharest, was raided on Wednesday as “part of a search related to a new investigation”, according to the spokeswoman.

DIICOT said in a statement that four search warrants were executed for homes in and around Bucharest in connection with “the crimes of forming an organised criminal group, trafficking in minors”, “sexual relations with a minor” and “money laundering”.

Andrew Tate and his brother are being held “for 24 hours”. Picture: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

Tate’s spokesperson did not address the allegations involving minors, telling AP: “Although the charges in the search warrant are not yet fully clarified, they include suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering.”

Tate, a former boxer who has amassed 9.5 million mostly male followers on X, was seen being ushered into a police van outside his home as reporters watched on.

“What I’ve done wrong, who knows,” he claimed, according to AP.

The brothers were driven to DIICOT in Bucharest for questioning before being taken into custody in handcuffs, the BBC reports.

Romanian gendarmes are pictured in front of Andrew and Tristan Tate's residency. Picture: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

Tate seemingly addressed the raid in a post on X, writing: “The Matrix is real. And they have a tried and true playbook. Slander is their number one tool and the process is the punishment. But unfortunately for them, Good always wins in the end.”

Hours later he shared another post, writing: “Nine hours into the house search and an armed police officer looks at me apologetically and shrugs his shoulders. He said ‘You’ve made somebody very angry’.”

He added in a separate post he didn’t have his phone “because it was taken by the police”.

“But when I speak loud my words are heard by someone from a computer far far away by magic.”

Tate was previously banned from various social media platforms for allegedly expressing misogynistic views and using hate speech.

Tristan Tate was also detailed following the raid. Picture: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

The Tate brothers have already been accused of having formed an organised criminal network in early 2021 in Romania and Britain. They have denied the charges.

Prosecutors allege they and two women set up a criminal organisation and sexually exploited several victims.

The pair were detained in 2022 in Bucharest and spent three months in detention before being released under judicial supervision to await trial.

The brothers also face rape and assault allegations in separate cases in Britain, where they have also been accused of tax evasion.

Their home raided as part of a search into a new investigation. Picture: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

‘I am free’

Last month, Tate, who has dual British US citizen, announced he would take a sports car to the Italaim Alps to see some “b****es” after a court ruled he could leave Romania for the first time in three years, while awaiting charges.

Following the decision, Tate took to X declaring: “I am free. For the first time in three years I can leave Romania. The sham case is falling apart”.

The former boxer and reality TV contestant also shared a video pondering where he should go on his first trip outside Romania.

“Do we take the FS90 to Italy? Do we take the MC20 to Cannes? Do we take the 812 Competizione to Paris? Where do I go? I can go anywhere I want,” he said in the video.

“Now I’m free to do a tour around the world. … You ever driven to Tokyo? No? You’re a p*ssy. I’m built different”.

Tate must remain within the European Union and cannot go “anywhere” he wants.

“I’m gonna drive to the Italian Alps. I’m gonna get b***h one, two and three.”

A trial date is yet to be set.