Devon and Cornwall Police have seized £180,000 from controversial influencer Andrew Tate over a deposit he placed on an Aston Martin supercar, with Westminster Magistrates’ Court ruling the funds came from tax evasion and money laundering.
The six-figure sum, seized on Thursday under the Proceeds of Crime Act, adds to the £2.7 million already confiscated from the British-American social media personality and his brother Tristan in December 2024. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring granted the forfeiture orders after hearing the deposit for the special-edition Valhalla vehicle originated from cryptocurrency accounts linked to criminal funds.
The Tate brothers, who face human trafficking and rape charges in Romania, did not oppose the court orders. Half of the seized money will fund community projects in Devon and Cornwall, whilst HM Treasury receives the remaining 50 per cent for public services.
Sarah Clarke KC, representing Devon and Cornwall Police, told the court that the £180,000 deposit paid to Aston Martin in July 2021 came from a Coinbase cryptocurrency account. “No tax or VAT had ever been paid on these funds,” she said, adding that the money had been laundered through bank accounts previously subject to forfeiture applications.
The latest seizure follows December’s landmark ruling where Judge Goldspring described the brothers’ financial arrangements as “a straightforward cheat of the revenue.” At that hearing, the court found the Tates had “engaged in long-standing conduct to evade their tax” on approximately £21 million ($26.5 million) in revenue from online businesses between 2014 and 2022.
Detective Superintendent Jon Bancroft hailed the outcome as another victory against financial crime. “From the outset we aimed to demonstrate that Andrew and Tristan Tate evaded their tax obligations and laundered money,” he said. “We succeeded in doing exactly that and we have succeeded again this week.”
The 38-year-old former kickboxer has amassed over 10 million followers on X, formerly Twitter, despite being banned from other major platforms for posting what they deemed hate speech and misogynistic content. His influence among young males has sparked concern from educators and law enforcement across Britain.
The Aston Martin Valhalla, featured in the James Bond film ‘No Time to Die’, carries a price tag of approximately £850,000. The version Tate attempted to purchase was a limited special edition of the hybrid hypercar, capable of reaching speeds exceeding 200mph.
Devon and Cornwall Police’s investigation traced the brothers’ funds through what prosecutors called a “complex financial matrix” of bank and cryptocurrency accounts. The force utilised civil powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act, which allows authorities to recover suspected criminal property without requiring a criminal conviction.
“This further successful outcome shows how we will relentlessly pursue all criminal funds without fear or favour,” Det Supt Bancroft added. “Our investigations do not have geographic boundaries.”
The asset forfeitures come as the Tates face mounting legal challenges internationally. Romanian prosecutors have charged them with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. The allegations include claims that victims were subjected to “acts of physical violence and mental coercion” and forced to perform in pornography.
In August 2024, Romanian authorities launched a second investigation into allegations of trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering. The brothers have consistently denied all charges against them.
British prosecutors have also approved 21 criminal charges against the pair, including rape, assault and human trafficking, relating to alleged offences between 2012 and 2015. A European arrest warrant has been issued, though extradition proceedings remain pending whilst Romanian cases continue.
The financial investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police revealed the brothers had transferred millions between multiple accounts “with the deliberate aim of disguising the origin of the funds.” Court documents showed the money funded “extravagant lifestyles” including private jets, luxury hotels and high-end vehicles.
During July’s hearing, Ms Clarke quoted from an online video where Andrew Tate boasted: “When I lived in England I refused to pay tax.” The court heard he advocated an approach of “ignore, ignore, ignore because in the end they go away.”
The seizures represent a significant blow to the Tates’ financial empire, built on controversial online courses and subscription services marketed to young men. Their businesses included Hustlers’ University, War Room and various OnlyFans-related ventures.
Four British women have also filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew Tate, alleging rape and physical abuse after the Crown Prosecution Service declined to prosecute in 2019. Their lawyer, Matthew Jury, has called for immediate action to secure the brothers’ extradition to face justice in the UK.
The Tates briefly left Romania in February 2025 after travel restrictions were lifted, flying by private jet to Florida. They returned weeks later, with Andrew Tate telling reporters: “Innocent men don’t run from anything.”
Det Supt Bancroft emphasised that the seized funds would benefit local communities. “People in Devon and Cornwall will benefit from the money seized and it will be reinvested to help prevent crime, aid victims and vulnerable people, and to boost good causes,” he said.
The force’s success in recovering the funds demonstrates British authorities’ determination to pursue financial crimes regardless of geographic boundaries or the perpetrators’ public profile. With further legal proceedings pending in multiple jurisdictions, the Tate brothers’ legal and financial troubles appear far from over.
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