Andrew Tate, a controversial ex-kickboxer and social media influencer, was arrested after cops raided his luxury home in Romania on suspicion of alleged human trafficking, rape, and forming an organized crime group, glamsquad reports.
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Following raids on his villa and other properties near Bucharest, the prolific social media personality, 36, was detained for 24 hours alongside his brother Tristan as part of the criminal investigation, Romanian prosecutors said.
According to prosecutors, the brothers are suspects in an alleged organized crime ring that sexually exploited at least six women by recruiting, housing, and forcing them to perform pornographic videos for sale online.
As part of the investigation into alleged sex crimes and human trafficking, Andrew Tate and his brother will be questioned by the country’s organized crime and terrorism team.
Emory Andrew Tate III, Tate’s full name, has been dubbed “the king of toxic masculinity” for his online diatribes against women, which have earned him notoriety and millions of followers.
Tate, a former pro kickboxer, rose to prominence after appearing on the reality show Big Brother in 2016, but was ejected after a video surfaced online showing him striking a woman with a belt.
During the raid, police confiscated guns, electronics, and edged weapons from his home.
Tate’s residence in the Eastern European country was also raided on April 11 as part of a human trafficking investigation.
Following the April raid, which was reportedly prompted by a complaint to the American Embassy in Bucharest from a US citizen, the Tate brothers were detained for several hours for questioning before being released while the investigation was ongoing.
His arrest follows an online spat with climate activist Greta Thunberg. It’s believed that his online feud with Thunberg played a role in the timing of the raids, as he was apprehended a day after taunting the climate activist while posing alongside a Romanian pizza box, confirming his location to authorities.