GEORGETOWN, Guyana — In a landmark legal ruling with far-reaching implications for the oil-rich South American nation, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has authorized the resumption of U.S. extradition proceedings for Guyana’s top opposition leader and his father, who face federal charges of gold smuggling and money laundering in the United States. The Wednesday decision dismissed a legal challenge filed by Azruddin Mohamed, head of the country’s second-largest parliamentary party, and his father Nazar Mohamed, rejecting the pair’s arguments that the charges against them did not qualify as extraditable offenses under regional agreements.
Azruddin Mohamed catapulted into Guyanese politics just six months after launching the We Invest in Nationhood Party, securing the position of opposition leader in January 2024. The 50-year-old tycoon is counted among Guyana’s wealthiest individuals, with an extensive business empire spanning gold trade, foreign exchange services, and large-scale real estate holdings across the country. According to U.S. federal prosecutors, the Mohameds built their fortune through a years-long criminal scheme: smuggling more than 10,000 kilograms (22,000 pounds) of gold from Guyana to buyers in Miami and Dubai, while evading over $50 million in U.S. taxes. The U.S. Treasury Department subsequently imposed formal sanctions on the pair in connection with the alleged activity.
The father-son duo were arrested in Guyana last year shortly after the U.S. extradition request was filed, and have remained free on bond while challenging the proceedings. As the final court of appeal for multiple Caribbean nations, the CCJ heard the case at its headquarters in Port of Spain, Trinidad, with Wednesday’s hearing broadcast live to the public. During the session, CCJ Justice Winston Anderson noted the procedural complexity of the case, declining to speculate on a timeline for when extradition proceedings will restart. Defense counsel for the Mohameds declined to make public statements during the hearing and did not respond to requests for comment after the ruling.
Shortly after the decision was issued, Nazar Mohamed told reporters from The Associated Press that the legal team would need time to review the full 256-page judgment before outlining next steps. “It is a 256-page judgement,” he said. “Our lawyers are checking it through. Based on what lawyers say, all is not lost as yet. … We will be fighting all the way.” Azruddin Mohamed was observed in public during the hearing, smiling on camera at points, signaling the pair remains defiant amid the legal setback.
The case has thrown a spotlight on longstanding allegations of systemic public corruption in Guyana, which has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies following the discovery of massive offshore oil deposits several years ago. Notably, the legal action against the opposition leaders has not disrupted warm diplomatic ties between the U.S. and the administration of Guyanese President Irfaan Ali. The South American country’s new oil wealth remains the subject of a long-running territorial dispute between Guyana and neighboring Venezuela, which claims the majority of the offshore oil region as its own sovereign territory.