Prosecutors in Romania on Friday indicted social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan, on trafficking charges.

The development came years after an investigation into the Tate brothers’ activities began in the country.

While Mr Andrew was indicted for trafficking minors, money laundering, sex with a minor and witness tampering, his brother was indicted for complicity.

The controversial influencers, who hold dual U.S. and British citizenship, were arrested in Miami in late July following a request for their extradition to the UK on rape charges.

Romanian prosecutors noted the brothers recruited their victims through seduction and false claims of marriage, before forcing them to produce pornographic content for a webcam business.

However, defence attorney Eugen Vidineac denied the allegations, stressing that the indictment did not constitute a finding of guilt.

Mr Vidineac noted that Romanian courts halted a previous indictment against the brothers because of procedural irregularities.

“DIICOT has now chosen to file a new indictment. We will examine every aspect of it with the same level of scrutiny, and we will challenge any evidential, procedural or legal deficiencies,” he stated.

The development came as both brothers remained held at a federal detention centre in Miami following their arrest by U.S. marshals.

The Tate brothers are facing over 50 charges of sexual abuse across borders, including the UK. The duo are requesting their release while British prosecutors process their extradition to the UK.