GEORGETOWN, Guyana — POLICE in Guyana this morning (Oct. 31) arrested and charged businessman Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, following an extradition request from the United States.
The two men are facing criminal charges in the U.S. after prosecutors unsealed indictments against them in a Florida court earlier this month.
According to media reports, the younger Mohamed was arrested outside the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), while his father was later taken into custody.
The pair face 11 charges, including money laundering, wire fraud, and mail fraud. Reports indicate that U.S. authorities have been investigating the Mohameds since the early 2010s.
The two, who were sanctioned last year, are also accused of, among other things, tax evasion and allegedly reusing official GRA seals to avoid paying duties and taxes.
Azruddin Mohamed entered the political arena ahead of the September General Elections, shaking up the race in the process. His political party, the We Invest Nationhood, did not win the election but secured the majority of opposition seats. He is expected to be sworn in next week as Leader of the Opposition.
Both men appeared in court today as extradition proceedings got underway.
According to a statement from the Office of the Attorney General, the government received the formal extradition request from the United States on Thursday.
