Abu Trica Arrest: See the 10 Ghana and US Agencies That Needed to Collaborate for Massive Operation
- Frederick Kumi, aka Abu Trica, allegedly masterminded an $8 million romance fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans
- US and Ghanaian agencies collaborated extensively to apprehend Kumi in a major cross-border law enforcement effort
- He faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering amid growing transnational crime cooperation
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US authorities have outlined the extensive multi-agency collaboration that led to the arrest of 31-year-old Frederick Kumi, also known as Abu Trica.
Kumi is accused of being the mastermind behind an $8 million romance fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans.
Source: Instagram
The operation to arrest him on December 11, 2025, was described by the US Attorney's Office as one of the most coordinated cross-border law enforcement partnerships in recent years.
Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel George, for example, took to Facebook to commend the head of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Divine Selase Agbeti, for his outfit's role in the arrest.
Similar operations have seen the likes of businessman Isaac Kofi Oduro, aka Kofi Boat, arrested and extradited to the US over alleged fraud.
Oduro was arrested by a joint Interpol and FBI operation on June 13, 2025, before his extradition was confirmed in August.
Meanwhile, the Ghanaian institutions involved in arresting Kumi were:
- Attorney-General’s Office
- Economic and Organised Crimes Office
- Ghana Police Service
- Cyber Security Authority
- Narcotics Control Commission
- National Intelligence Bureau
The US federal agencies involved in the arrest were:
- Drug Enforcement Administration’s Sensitive Investigations Unit
- Homeland Security Investigations
- Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs
- FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra
What crimes is Abu Trica accused of?
On December 11, Kumi, known for his lavish displays of wealth, was indicted by a US federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
Investigators linked the businessman and socialite to a criminal network that defrauded elderly victims through romance scams dating back to 2023.
He is alleged to have moved substantial sums through complex channels to evade detection.
Officials have stated that the operation underscores the growing cooperation between Ghanaian and US agencies in combating transnational crime.
Source: Facebook
Kumi's syndicate had reportedly been operating since 2023 and defrauded its victims out of more than $8 million, per the US Justice Department.
"According to the indictment, perpetrators of this romance scam used Artificial Intelligence software to assume false identities and form close personal relationships with victims.
"They gained victims’ trust to obtain money and valuables, often targeting individuals through social media and online dating platforms under false pretences.
"Victims were often elderly and engaged in romantic but physically distant relationships with perpetrators."
It added that after gaining the trust of victims, the scammers requested money for urgent needs, including medical needs, travel expenses, or investment opportunities.
Footage shows Abu Trica's arrest
YEN.com.gh also reported on visuals from the raid that led to Abu Trica's arrest, along with two other men who were at his residence at the time of the major raid.
Footage circulating widely online showed investigators seizing digital devices and searching the socialite's house during a crackdown on the suspected scammers.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
