A Ghanaian national, indicted last December by a US federal grand jury for large-scale fraud targeting elderly people, recently appeared in court in his country. Ghanaian authorities must now decide whether to extradite him to the United States, where he faces charges estimated at over eight million dollars.

According to the indictment made public by the US Department of Justice, Frederick Kumi, also known by the aliases Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng and Abu Trica, is 31 years old and from Swedru, in central Ghana. He is suspected of having played an active role in a structured criminal network specializing in international romance scams, primarily in the United States.

Elderly victims targeted across the United States

According to the evidence presented in the case, the network to which Frederick Kumi belonged allegedly targeted elderly people living in several U.S. states since 2023. The victims, often isolated, were reportedly approached through digital platforms and messaging applications. Investigators describe a modus operandi based on establishing close personal relationships, presented as long-distance romantic relationships. These exchanges, sometimes spanning several months, relied on frequent conversations, combining phone calls, emails, and instant messages. Gradually, the perpetrators gained the trust of their contacts, eventually obtaining money transfers or valuables. The indictment highlights a central element of the case: the use of artificial intelligence software to impersonate credible individuals.

The requests for money made to the victims were justified by various pretexts, ranging from alleged urgent medical needs and unexpected travel expenses to investment projects presented as particularly attractive. According to investigators, these scenarios were tailored to each victim, depending on their profile and personal circumstances. Once the funds were transferred, Frederick Kumi allegedly worked closely with a network of accomplices responsible for redistributing the money. The collected sums passed through the state of Ohio before being sent to Ghana and other destinations. US authorities suspect the accused of having occupied a central position in this financial chain, facilitating the flow of funds between North America and West Africa. These elements have contributed to strengthening the classification of the case, which is now being treated as a transnational organized crime investigation.

An investigation conducted by a coalition of Ghanaian and American agencies

The arrest of Frederick Kumi in Ghana on December 11, 2025, was the culmination of a lengthy investigation conducted through close cooperation between several institutions. On the Ghanaian side, the Attorney General's office, the Economic Organized Crime Office (EOCO), the police service, the Cyber Security Authority, the Narcotics Control Board (NACOC), and the National Intelligence Bureau were all involved. On the American side, the investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Sensitive Investigations Unit, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of International Affairs of the Department of Justice, and the FBI's Legal Attaché office in Accra. This joint effort illustrates the international dimension of the case. Unusual security measures were observed during his transfer from the detention center to the courthouse. Ghanaian judicial authorities have called upon elite units of the Narcotics Control Commission, renowned for their discipline and resilience in the face of attempts at corruption.

This enhanced security detail contrasts sharply with the procedures usually applied in digital fraud cases. According to several sources close to the investigation, these precautions are explained by the suspect's profile and the risks identified prior to his extraction. Despite his youthful appearance, Frederick Kumi is described as an individual with a complex background. According to information provided to the authorities, he allegedly maintained ties, from adolescence, with Jamaican gangs based in London, known for their use of violence as a modus operandi. These early associations reportedly contributed to forging a network of contacts and a criminal experience that, according to investigators, goes beyond the typical scope of online scams. The total amount of money involved, estimated at nearly five billion CFA francs, reinforces this interpretation. Frederick Kumi is also suspected of having served as a point of contact in West Africa for several South American cartels. These allegations, which are still under investigation, partly explain the involvement of the DEA and the Ghanaian Narcotics Control Board in the investigation.

The authorities remain cautious regarding these accusations, which will need to be substantiated before the competent courts. Nevertheless, they reinforce the hypothesis of a far-reaching network, combining cybercrime, money laundering, and organized crime. The Ghanaian justice system must now rule on the extradition request submitted by the United States. This procedure, governed by bilateral agreements and Ghanaian law, could take several weeks, or even several months. For the authorities, the stakes go beyond the individual case of Frederick Kumi. It is also about sending a clear signal regarding international judicial cooperation and Ghana's determination to combat modern forms of transnational crime, in a context where digital scams continue to become more sophisticated.