Prosecutors in Romania have arrested controversial internet personality and former professional kickboxer Andrew Tate on suspicion of human trafficking, rape, and forming an organized crime group after he allegedly disclosed his location during a social media dispute with environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

Tate, who was banned from many social media platforms for misogynistic comments and hate speech, and his brother Tristan would be detained for 24 hours along with two Romanian suspects, prosecutors from the anti-organized-crime unit said in a statement following a search of their Bucharest properties.

Since April, the Tate brothers have been the subject of a criminal investigation.

The British national ridiculed Thunberg this week, boasting about his petrol-guzzling cars, saying he owned 33 with "enormous emissions." It culminated with him sharing a video of himself with a cigar and pizza boxes printed with details of a Romanian restaurant.

Thunberg's Twitter account is well-known for jabs at prominent figures, including Donald Trump.

The prosecution declined to comment, but their attorney confirmed that the two had been arrested.

“The four suspects ... appear to have created an organised crime group with the purpose of recruiting, housing and exploiting women by forcing them to create pornographic content meant to be seen on specialised websites for a cost,” prosecutors said.

“They would have gained important sums of money.”

Prosecutors said they had uncovered six women who the suspects had sexually exploited.

Tate has stated that women share responsibility for being raped and belong to men.