Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has firmly stated that no individual, regardless of wealth or influence, will be shielded from the law—including the controversial money launderer, gold smuggler sanctioned by U.S. authorities, and fraudulent invoice manipulator in Guyana, as well as the aspiring Azruddin Mohamed, who allegedly has no formal education as a presidential candidate.
During a press conference on Thursday, Dr. Jagdeo addressed growing public concerns regarding whether the Mohamed family, which has been sanctioned by the United States government, was receiving leniency from the current administration.
Dr. Jagdeo declared, “There is no double standard in government where a wealthy person can smuggle gold, evade taxes, do all sorts of criminality, and then get away consequence-free,” adding that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has no collaboration whatsoever with Azruddin Mohamed or his associates.
No Immunity for Mohamed
Dr. Jagdeo’s comments were a direct response to a journalist’s question about whether the government might be overlooking the businessman’s activities. The Vice President firmly rejected this implication.
“We have no collaboration with the Mohameds,” he emphasized. “He would be held to account for all of his criminal behavior.”
According to Jagdeo, Azruddin Mohamed is currently under investigation for smuggling over 10,000 kilograms of gold over five years, resulting in a loss of more than US$50 million in tax revenue for the Guyanese state. He emphasized that this could fund the government’s “Because We Care” cash grant for schoolchildren for an entire year.
No Political Alliance with the PPP
Responding to accusations that the PPP might be indirectly benefiting from Azruddin Mohamed’s political ventures to siphon votes from the opposition, Dr. Jagdeo dismissed the idea as politically motivated propaganda.
“Now that they see he’s not gaining traction among PPP supporters, they are accusing us of encouraging him to do what he has done,” he explained.
He further suggested that the opposition is trying to use Mohamed to recreate the 2011 political landscape, which resulted in a hung parliament. “It will not happen. The PPP will win and win handsomely — both the presidency and the majority of seats in parliament,” Jagdeo said.
U.S. Sanctions and Corruption Allegations
On June 11, 2024, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Nazar Mohamed, his son Azruddin Mohamed, Mohamed’s Enterprise, and government official Mae Thomas due to their alleged involvement in extensive public corruption in Guyana.
The OFAC findings alleged that Mohamed’s Enterprise was involved in a long-standing and highly organized scheme to evade taxes on gold exports by underreporting the amount of gold exported from Guyana. Between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise reportedly left out more than 10,000 kilograms of gold from export declarations, evading duty taxes that totaled over US$50 million.
This intricate scheme involved collaboration with customs officials, forging documents, and concealing profits in offshore accounts. U.S. authorities also connected the company to money laundering and political bribery, further intensifying the scandal.
In the wake of the sanctions, Azruddin Mohamed has sought to rebrand himself as a political figure by launching a prominent presidential campaign. However, his candidacy has generated widespread criticism and suspicion due to his involvement in serious financial and criminal investigations.
Investigations Ongoing
Dr. Jagdeo confirmed that enforcement agencies, including the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), are thoroughly investigating the matter.
“The matter is in the hands of the GRA and SOCU,” he said, reiterating that the government does not interfere with their work. “When they are ready, it will happen. And again, he poses no threat to the PPP.”
Despite his considerable financial resources and prominent campaigning, Azruddin Mohamed faces intense national and international scrutiny. His legal future and political ambitions now hang in the balance as investigators move closer to potential criminal charges.