Guyana prepared to extradite Mohameds- AG

The Government of Guyana has confirmed it is prepared to act on any formal extradition request from the United States for gold dealers Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, who were recently indicted in Florida on multiple counts, including gold smuggling, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall said on his weekly programme Issues in the News that Guyana is “ready, willing, and able” to fulfil its obligations under the Fugitive Offenders Act and the extradition treaty with the U.S. once a request is formally submitted. He noted that the extradition process is well-established and has been successfully executed in the past with requests from the United States, Canada, and other jurisdictions.

The indictment, unsealed by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that the Mohameds orchestrated a multimillion-dollar scheme to evade taxes and royalties on gold exports from Guyana between 2017 and 2024. Prosecutors claim the men reused customs declarations and government seals to ship thousands of kilograms of gold through Miami, concealing the true value of exports and defrauding both Guyanese and U.S. authorities. The indictment also alleges bribery of local officials and underdeclared luxury imports, including a Lamborghini reportedly undervalued to avoid over US$1 million in taxes.

Both men were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in June 2024, coinciding with the seizure of a US$5.3 million gold shipment linked to Mohamed’s Enterprise. Nandlall emphasized that the alleged offences span multiple years and administrations, dismissing claims of political motivation.

Azruddin Mohamed, now leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Party and slated to be the Opposition Leader, has denied the charges and vowed to challenge them in court. Despite the indictments, he has largely focused on political messaging, highlighting his party’s electoral performance and accusing the ruling PPP of targeting his family.

“I am permitted to say this much in the interim; the leadership of the PPP has been advancing a sustained narrative against the Mohameds aimed at discrediting us. Make no mistake; this is not just a personal attack; this is political; this is a fear tactic,” Mohamed said on social media. He also criticized the administration for allegedly misusing US$300,000 to hire a lobby firm to target political opponents.

Adding to the discussion, WIN Party’s former prime ministerial candidate, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, dismissed claims of a constitutional crisis, stating that an indictment does not prevent a duly elected Member of Parliament from being sworn in or assuming the office of Leader of the Opposition.

No formal extradition request has been received yet. Nandlall confirmed that once the request is submitted, Guyana will follow judicial procedures to determine its validity under local and international law.