The arrest of 31-year-old Frederick Kumi, also known as Abu Trica, was not only a US-led initiative, it was powered by a strong coalition of Ghanaian security and investigative bodies.

Officials confirmed that the operation, executed on December 11, 2025, was one of the most coordinated cross-border law enforcement partnerships in recent years.

According to the US Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Sensitive Investigations Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra played critical roles in intelligence sharing, digital tracking, and coordinating legal processes related to the indictment.

Here are the key Ghanaian agencies that played crucial roles in the operation:

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1. Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice

The Attorney-General’s Office provided the legal framework and approvals required for cooperation with US authorities, ensuring extradition-related procedures and cross-border legal processes complied with Ghanaian law.

2. Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)

EOCO supported financial intelligence gathering and helped trace the movement of funds connected to the alleged romance fraud scheme. Its mandate in organised crime and money laundering made it central to the investigation.

3. Ghana Police Service

The police played a critical role in operational support, including surveillance, physical arrest procedures and coordinating with other domestic agencies during the takedown.

4. Cyber Security Authority (CSA)

Given the cyber-enabled nature of the alleged crimes, the CSA assisted with digital forensics, cyber-intelligence and technical assessments relevant to tracking online activities linked to the fraud network.

5. Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC)

NACOC supported intelligence-sharing structures and contributed to analysing financial flows, especially those suspected to be connected to illicit cross-border networks.

6. National Intelligence Bureau (NIB)

The NIB provided high-level intelligence, background checks, and coordination between local agencies and US federal investigators. Its covert capabilities strengthened the overall operation.

Abu Trica indicted in US for $8m romance fraud, arrested by authorities in Ghana

Kumi was indicted by a US federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

Investigators linked him 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 say the operation underscores the growing cooperation between Ghanaian and US agencies in combating transnational crimes, particularly cyber-enabled fraud schemes affecting victims across both countries.

MRA/EB

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