The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has denied that it made contact with the alleged international romance fraud suspect Frederick Kumi, widely known as "Abu Trica", prior to his high-profile arrest last week.
The statement comes amid swirling media speculation surrounding the operation.
In a news release dated December 16, 2025, EOCO addressed claims directly, stating, "EOCO wishes to inform its stakeholders and the General public that the Office did not on any occasion contact 'Abu Trica' before the arrest as is being speculated."
The arrest was a sequel to an earlier announcement by EOCO on December 12 concerning the collaborative detention of the suspect.
Kumi, a 31-year-old from Swedru, was arrested in Ghana on Thursday, December 11, 2025, following a joint operation involving multiple Ghanaian and United States law enforcement agencies.
He has been indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated romance fraud scheme that defrauded elderly Americans of more than eight million dollars.
U.S. authorities allege that since 2023, Kumi's network used Artificial Intelligence to create fake identities on social media and dating platforms to form intimate, long-distance relationships with victims. After building trust through frequent communication, the perpetrators would fabricate crises—such as medical emergencies or investment opportunities—to deceive victims into sending money. The indictment states that Kumi then worked with associates in Ohio and across the U.S. to receive and redistribute the illicit funds to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere.
Kumi faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, carrying a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. officials have clarified that an indictment is not evidence of guilt and that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution.
The case, investigated by the FBI’s Cleveland Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonough, highlights extensive cross-border collaboration. U.S. authorities formally thanked Ghana’s Attorney General’s Office, EOCO, the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, and several other agencies for their cooperation.
In its release, EOCO reiterated its core mandate, writing, "The Office remains committed to fighting economic and organised crime and urges the public to" remain vigilant. The case falls under the U.S. Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative, which targets financial exploitation of older Americans.
