Action film icon Jean-Claude Van Damme is at the center of a developing international investigation into an alleged human trafficking network, following claims that he knowingly engaged with victims of exploitation.
Romanian authorities have launched a criminal probe into allegations that the 64-year-old actor was involved with a group under investigation for trafficking and exploitation.
According to a report from local news outlet Antena 3, a complaint has been filed with Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), implicating Van Damme in a disturbing incident that allegedly took place in Cannes, France.
The report alleges that Van Damme was “gifted” five Romanian women—believed to be victims of trafficking—by members of a criminal organization during a private event.
Attorney Adrian Cuculis, representing one of the women, claims that Van Damme was aware of the women’s vulnerable status, citing concerns of exploitation under Romanian criminal law.
DIICOT’s investigation, which has been active since 2020 and targets broader trafficking activities—including suspected minor trafficking—is now looking into the incident involving Van Damme as a potential extension of the network’s operations abroad.
The women involved were reportedly photo models in Romania and are believed to have been coerced or manipulated by the trafficking group.
Because the alleged event took place in France, further legal steps—specifically authorization from France’s High Court of Cassation—will be required before those involved can be summoned to provide testimony in Romania.
The Independent reports that it has contacted both DIICOT and Van Damme’s representatives for official comments, though none have been issued at this time.
The martial arts star, who rose to fame with 1988’s Bloodsport and became a staple of ‘90s action cinema, now faces potentially serious legal scrutiny as prosecutors expand their efforts to dismantle the trafficking ring.
