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Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, the Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), has appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to detail the commission's involvement in the arrest of Frederick Kumi, widely known as Abu Trica. Speaking on Friday, October 10, 2025, Mantey clarified the specific role NACOC played in a high-stakes, 12-hour joint security operation. The arrest, which targeted Kumi for alleged cybercrime, had prompted inquiries from lawmakers regarding why a narcotics-focused body was participating in a cyber-related enforcement action.
During the proceedings, PAC Vice-Chairperson Opoku Ansah Davis sought clarification on the commission’s mandate and its collaboration with other security agencies in this specific instance. Mantey explained that while NACOC’s primary focus remains drug-related offenses, the commission frequently operates within a multi-agency framework to address broader national security threats. He noted that the 12-hour operation was the result of coordinated intelligence-sharing, requiring various units to work in tandem to ensure the successful apprehension of the suspect. The Director-General's testimony underscored that the mission required specialized coordination that NACOC was equipped to support as part of the task force.
The briefing served to provide transparency regarding the commission's operational procedures and its expenditure as part of the PAC's oversight duties. By detailing the collaboration, Mantey highlighted the evolving nature of security operations in Ghana, where boundaries between different types of criminal investigations often overlap. The committee’s inquiry into the Abu Trica case reflects ongoing efforts to monitor how state agencies utilize their resources and maintain their specific legal mandates while participating in joint national security efforts.