Romanian police target alleged associate of Tate brothers in multiple raids

Romanian police conducted multiple raids on Tuesday, June 13, aiming to dismantle an organized criminal group specialized in human trafficking. The raids targeted an alleged associate of the famous Tate brothers.

Vlad Obu, believed to be close to the Tate brothers, is the targeted individual in the case.

"On June 13, 2023, the officers of the Organized Crime Combat Brigade in Cluj, together with the prosecutors from DIICOT - Cluj Territorial Service, executed 13 search warrants in the cities of Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca, as well as in Ilfov County, in a case involving investigations into the crimes of forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, and public instigation," stated the DIICOT press release cited by G4Media.

"It has been established in this case that during the year 2021, three individuals allegedly formed an organized criminal group with the purpose of committing the crime of human trafficking. The suspects allegedly created a system through which they recruited multiple victims, whom they compelled, including through acts of violence, to produce explicit sexual materials for an online platform dedicated to adults and/or engage in pornographic activities through video chats. The suspects allegedly appropriated almost all of the financial benefits obtained from these activities," police sources explained.

The victims were reportedly recruited through deception, misled about the intention to establish a marital or cohabitation relationship, and the existence of romantic feelings (the loverboy method). Subsequently, the victims were housed in properties in Ilfov County, Bucharest, and Cluj-Napoca, where they were sexually exploited by the group members through physical violence and psychological coercion, according to investigators.

"Additionally, in order to ensure the loyalty of the victims and their exclusive dedication to the group's activities, they were allegedly compelled to tattoo the name and/or face of the group member responsible for their exploitation," the press release stated.

The accusations are virtually the same as the ones brought against Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan.

So far, seven victims who were sexually exploited by the organized criminal group have been identified. 31 individuals suspected of being involved in criminal activities were brought to the headquarters of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism - Cluj Territorial Service for questioning.