Ghanaian socialite Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, has been re-arrested by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) on Monday, January 26, 2026, shortly after he and his co-accused were discharged by the Gbese District Court.
The rearrest follows an earlier disclosure by Abu Trica’s legal counsel, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who revealed that NACOC officials had attempted to re-arrest his client inside the courtroom—an action said to have displeased the presiding judge.
The accused persons were discharged after the state formally withdrew the charges against them.
Confirming the development to the media, a member of Abu Trica’s legal team said he was taken to the NACOC headquarters, though the reason for the rearrest remains unclear.
“They’ve been taken him back to the Narcotics Headquarters. I’m yet to know why they are there, but I believe it’s for administrative purposes,” the lawyer stated.
The trial involving Abu Trica and his co-accused was meant to determine whether they would be extradited to the United States to face criminal charges.
Abu Trica was first arrested by Ghanaian security authorities on Thursday, December 11, 2025, following an indictment by U.S. authorities over his alleged involvement in a large-scale online romance scam estimated to exceed $8 million.
According to unsealed documents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Abu Trica is alleged to be part of an international criminal network that targeted elderly victims across the United States from 2023.
Prosecutors allege that the group used artificial intelligence software to create fake online identities and establish intimate relationships with senior citizens through social media and dating platforms. Victims were allegedly manipulated into sending money and valuables under false pretences, including claims of medical emergencies, travel costs, and investment opportunities.
Further details surrounding the rearrest are yet to be officially communicated by NACOC.
