Guyana's main opposition leader, Azruddin Mohamed, has been arrested and faces extradition to the United States, throwing the country into political turmoil. Mohamed, 38, and his father Nazar Mohamed, 73, were detained on 31 October in Georgetown following a formal extradition request from the US government. They were released later that day after posting bail of 150,000 Guyanese dollars each but must report to court weekly, with a new hearing scheduled for Monday.
Mohamed faces 11 charges in a Florida court, including money laundering, bribery and tax evasion. The indictment covers offences allegedly committed between 2017 and 2024. In June 2024, a shipment of gold bars worth about $5.3m sent by Mohamed’s company was seized in Miami, and the Mohameds were sanctioned by the US Treasury for gold smuggling and evading over $50m in taxes owed to the Guyanese government.
Mohamed has claimed political persecution, alleging the government of President Irfaan Ali is behind the sanctions. Guyana’s Attorney General, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, said the case stems from a 1931 extradition treaty between the UK and US, which remains in force in Guyana. Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo confirmed the extradition request was signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlighting the seriousness of the matter.
Mohamed emerged as a surprise contender in the recent presidential election, winning 16 seats in congress with his newly formed party and breaking the traditional two-party system. He campaigned on a populist, anti-establishment platform, urging Guyanese to reject tribal voting and promising to renegotiate the country's oil deal. Despite Guyana's oil wealth, more than half the population lives in poverty.
The case has drawn attention amid strengthening ties between Guyana and the US, particularly in the energy sector, where American firms are leading oil exploration. Political scientist Peter Wickham noted that the situation challenges the status quo in Guyana. Mohamed's legal team has argued that some alleged offences are not crimes in Guyana, contesting the extradition.
