Oliver Barker-Vormawor, legal counsel for Frederick Kumi, also known as Abu Trica, has disclosed that his client remains in the custody of Interpol following his rearrest by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in January 2026.

According to him, the state has filed charges of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud by false pretense against Abu Trica.

Ghanaian socialite Abu Trica rearrested by NACOC

“Abu Trica has been in Interpol custody since his rearrest. The state has filed the same charges of conspiracy to defraud by false pretense and money laundering against him,” he was quoted as saying in a TV3 newscard shared on Facebook on February 9, 2026.

The Ghanaian socialite was rearrested by NACOC after he and his co-accused were discharged by the Gbese District Court.

The accused were discharged after the state withdrew the charges against them.

Confirming Abu Trica's rearrest to the media, a member of the legal team said he was taken to the NACOC headquarters.

“They've been taken back to the Narcotics Headquarters. I'm yet to know why they are there, but I believe it's for administrative purposes,” he said.

The trial against Abu Trica and his co-accused was intended to determine whether they should be extradited to the United States to face trial.

Abu Trica was first arrested by Ghanaian security authorities on Thursday, December 11, 2025, following an indictment by US authorities over his alleged involvement in a large-scale online romance scam estimated at over $8 million.

Unsealed documents from the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio allege that Abu Trica was part of a criminal network that targeted elderly victims across the United States from 2023.

According to prosecutors, the group used artificial intelligence software to create fake identities and build intimate online relationships with senior citizens through social media and dating platforms. Victims were then manipulated into sending money and valuables under false pretences, including claims of medical emergencies, travel expenses, and investment opportunities.

Court discharges Abu Trica, two others in alleged $8m romance scam case

The indictment further alleges that Abu Trica helped distribute funds transferred from Ohio to conspirators in Ghana and other locations.

He was facing charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and a forfeiture specification.

MAG/VPO

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