The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has announced the arrest of notorious Ghanaian cyber-criminal Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica (also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng), for his alleged role in an $8 million romance scam that targeted elderly victims in the United States.
In a statement issued on Friday, December 12, 2025, EOCO disclosed that Abu Trica was arrested on Thursday, December 11, 2025, in a well-coordinated multi-agency operation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Interpol, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), and the Office of the Attorney-General.
According to EOCO, Abu Trica was a key member of a sophisticated criminal syndicate that has been operating since 2023. The group used Artificial Intelligence software to create fake identities, build romantic relationships with vulnerable elderly victims on social media and dating platforms, and defraud them of millions of dollars.
The statement said the suspect will soon be extradited to the United States to face multiple charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and forfeiture specifications. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years imprisonment.
EOCO described the arrest as the culmination of several months of intelligence-led investigations and international collaboration.
The agency commended its local partner agencies and the FBI for their professionalism and support in bringing the notorious scammer to justice.
Abu Trica has long been on the radar of both Ghanaian and U.S. law enforcement agencies for his alleged involvement in large-scale business email compromise (BEC) and romance fraud schemes.
The statement by EOCO comes after the US Department of Justice announced on Thursday that, December 11, 2025, a grand jury had returned indictment on two counts against Abu Trica for his alleged involvement in $8 million romance scam.
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