Abu Trica Arrested in Dramatic Raid at Swedru Mansion: Ghanaian Influencer Faces US Charges in $8M Romance Scam
In a high-stakes operation on Thursday, December 11, 2025, Ghanaian social media sensation Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, was arrested at his lavish mansion in Swedru, Central Region, by a joint team of Ghanaian police and U.S. federal agents.
The 31-year-old, infamous for flaunting luxury cars, cash stacks, and opulent lifestyles on Snapchat, now faces extradition to the United States over his alleged role in an $8 million romance scam targeting elderly Americans.
Exclusive photos capture the shocking takedown: Abu Trica, surrounded by a group of associates in his sprawling living room adorned with designer furniture and high-end electronics, appears stunned as heavily armed officers burst through the doors. Images show him being forcibly restrained on a plush sofa, his hands cuffed behind his back amid scattered luxury items symbolizing the “ill-gotten wealth” he allegedly amassed from the fraud. One frame depicts officers rifling through drawers filled with cash bundles and electronic devices, while Trica’s companions—described as “his boys” are lined up against the wall, faces pale under the mansion’s chandelier lights.
The raid, executed with precision around midday, stemmed from a U.S. federal indictment unsealed earlier that day in the Northern District of Ohio.
The two count charges conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering—accuse Kumi, also known by aliases Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng and Abu Trica, of masterminding a sophisticated criminal network since 2023. Prosecutors allege the group used AI-generated fake profiles on social media and dating apps to seduce vulnerable seniors, building romantic relationships before soliciting funds under false pretenses like medical emergencies, travel costs, or investments.
Victims, often lonely retirees, wired millions to U.S.-based intermediaries, with funds funneled through Ohio bank accounts to co-conspirators in Ghana and beyond. The scheme exploited the Elder Justice Initiative’s focus on protecting seniors from financial abuse, leaving many victims destitute.
“Abu Trica was part of a ruthless network that preyed on the elderly’s trust for profit,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio in a press release. The investigation, led by the FBI’s Cleveland Division, involved extensive collaboration with Ghanaian agencies including the Attorney General’s Office, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana Police Service, Cyber Security Authority, Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), and National Intelligence Bureau. U.S. entities like the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations provided critical support.
Eyewitnesses in Swedru described the scene as cinematic: “We heard shouts and saw police vans swarm the area. His big house, always full of parties, turned into chaos,” said a neighbor who spoke anonymously. Trica, once celebrated as a self-made millionaire who cleared a $450,000 Lamborghini Urus in 2024 and went viral with GH¢2 million cash displays, was led out in handcuffs, his signature flashy attire rumpled. No resistance was reported, but the arrest has sent shockwaves through Ghana’s influencer scene.
If convicted, Kumi faces up to 20 years in prison and forfeiture of assets. He is currently in custody at a secure facility in Accra, awaiting extradition proceedings. The U.S. emphasized that the indictment is not proof of guilt, and Trica is entitled to a fair trial.
The case underscores Ghana’s growing role in combating transnational cybercrime, with authorities vowing to dismantle similar networks. As one local resident quipped, “From big boy to barred boy—Swedru won’t forget this.”
