Controversial social media figure Andrew Tate has been arrested in Romania alongside his brother Tristan Tate and two others in connection with the abduction of two girls and potential ties to human trafficking.
The two were taken into custody following a raid carried out by the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) in the Romanian capital, Bucharest. A Romanian prosecutor stated that the four individuals arrested, including Tate and his brother, “appear to have created an organized crime group with the purpose of recruiting, housing, and exploiting women by forcing them to create pornographic content. They would have gained important sums of money.” Romania publication Libertatea was the first to report the arrest.
The arrest comes one day after Andrew Tate engaged in a heated exchange with 19-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on Twitter. Tate had tagged Thunberg in a post on the social media platform bragging about the 33 cars he owns and their “enormous emissions.” Thunberg snapped back with a response that has generated three million likes. Determined to get the last word in a game, Tate crafted a lengthy response that ultimately led Romanian authorities to him.
yes, please do enlighten me. email me at [email protected] https://t.co/V8geeVvEvg
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 28, 2022
In his video response, Tate can be seen smoking a cigar with a takeout pizza sitting in front of him. The pizza comes from popular pizza chain ‘Jerry’s Pizza’ in Romania. Authorities had reportedly been keeping a close watch on Tate’s social media activity, looking for any sign that he was in the country. When investigators spotted the pizza box, they quickly moved in and made the arrest.
Romanian authorities needed proof that Andrew Tate was in the country so they reportedly used his social media posts. His ridiculous video yesterday featured a pizza from a Romanian pizza chain, Jerry's Pizza, confirming he was in the country.
This is absolutely epic. pic.twitter.com/kyz4pqegkJ
— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) December 29, 2022
This is Not the First Time Andrew Tate and His Brother Have Been Questioned in a Reported Abduction
Speaking to The Daily Mirror, a spokesperson for Andrew Tate and his brother said, “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.”
This is not the first two the two brothers have been associated with an abduction in the country. Tate and his brother were brought in for questioning in April when local police reportedly found two girls who claimed they were being held against their will. The two were released as the investigation continued but were once again taken into custody by authorities on Thursday.
Tate had been previously tied to fights with fellow social media celebrities including Jake Paul and KSI. Tate had a short stint on Celebrity Big Brother, but was disqualified from the show after a video emerged that seemed to depict him hitting a woman. The woman later stated that her relationship with Tate was consensual.
BREAKING: Andrew Tate and brother Tristan arrested in Romania in human trafficking probe pic.twitter.com/b5eaZrErAb
— BNO News (@BNONews) December 29, 2022
