The Mohameds appear ready to betray and abandon their paid followers, leaving them to face possible sanctions, bank account closures, and legal consequences in Guyana. At the same time, they lounge and enjoy caviar in Caracas. Their behavior demonstrates nothing but cowardice.
The followers of Azruddin need to wake up from their illusions because their leader, Azruddin, and his family are planning to flee to Venezuela. This is an apparent betrayal of his paid supporters. The Mohameds have been enjoying over USD 50 million that they stole from the Guyanese people. The losers will be his paid mob and those considering supporting his party’s WIN.
It seems that every election season in Guyana produces its fair share of clowns, but this year, one stands out above the rest — and not for any talent, vision, or leadership. No, the spotlight falls on none other than U.S.-sanctioned gold dealer, alleged smuggler, and political wannabe Azruddin Mohamed, who is now openly cozying up to Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro like a gold-plated lapdog.
This latest drama unfolded when Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, exposed Mohamed’s suspicious new travel plans. After discovering that Azruddin and his family had been making frequent trips to the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown, Todd called in the Venezuelan Ambassador, Carlos Amador Perez Silva, for answers. What he learned should alarm every Guyanese citizen.
According to Todd, the Ambassador confirmed that the Mohameds were not visiting the embassy for tea and biscuits — they were applying for visas to travel to Caracas. That’s right: the same Caracas run by the same Maduro regime that is actively threatening to steal Guyana’s Essequibo region.
And if you think this is just a harmless holiday plan, think again. Todd was clear:
“We know Venezuela would use any attempt to derail the case before the ICJ, and they will explore every opportunity possible to threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity. This can pose a threat, particularly at this moment of our General and Regional Elections, when we know foreign interference is possible.”
The Maduro–Mohamed Connection
The U.S. has been warning about this connection for months. Congressman Carlos Gimenez straightforwardly called Azruddin a “pro-Maduro puppet candidate,” pointing to his sanctioned status under the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar shared similar concerns, saying:
“Individuals sanctioned for illicit activities must not be allowed to jeopardise this vital relationship.”
So, what are these “illicit activities” everyone keeps talking about? Well, buckle up, because Azruddin’s record reads like a handbook for criminal entrepreneurship.
The OFAC File: Gold, Lies, and Tax Evasion
On June 11, 2024, OFAC imposed sanctions on Nazar Mohamed, his son Azruddin, and their network of companies — Mohamed’s Enterprise, Hadi’s World, and Team Mohamed’s Racing. The allegations? Between 2019 and 2023, they under-declared over 10,000 kilograms of gold exports, depriving the people of Guyana of more than US$50 million in taxes.
Let’s put this into perspective: that amount of money could build hundreds of homes, fix major roads, and upgrade hospitals across Guyana. Instead, it allegedly lined up the pockets of a family now trying to present itself as a savior of the nation under the new banner of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party.
It’s as if a bank robber got caught red-handed and then decided to run for office on a “financial reform” platform.
The Fallout
Once the sanctions went into effect, Guyana’s institutions responded swiftly. The Bank of Guyana revoked the Mohameds’ cambio and gold trading licenses. Major local banks — Demerara Bank, GBTI, and Citizens Bank — closed their accounts.
OFAC even issued a stern warning to the global financial community:
“Financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to enforcement action.”
Translation: if you touch Mohamed’s money, you could be next on the blacklist.
Why Venezuela?
The timing of these visa applications to Caracas is suspicious. Guyana is just weeks away from national and regional elections on September 1. Venezuela still threatens to annex Essequibo. The ICJ case is still ongoing. And here’s Azruddin, showing up at the Venezuelan Embassy like a teenager visiting his girlfriend’s parents.
Minister Todd didn’t mince words:
“If it is clear that the Mohameds are close to Nicolás Maduro and his regime, that can pose a serious threat to our sovereignty, and it can also affect our relations with the United States and our traditional partnership.”
Let’s be honest — it’s already apparent. You don’t apply for a visa to Caracas during a geopolitical crisis unless you have business there. And in Mohamed’s case, that “business” probably isn’t about buying souvenirs.
Maduro: The World’s Most Unwanted Travel Buddy
The U.S. isn’t exactly a fan of Nicolás Maduro. Washington is offering a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Former U.S. President Donald Trump labeled him a “dictator” and “one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers.”
And yet here’s Azruddin, seemingly thinking, “Yes, this is the kind of man I should be associated with right before an election.”
It’s political suicide for anyone with a brain — but maybe not for a man whose arrogance has long blinded him to the truth.
WIN: A Party Without Originality or Credibility
Adding to the absurdity is Mohamed’s newly formed political party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN). The party’s manifesto appears to be a suspicious patchwork of policies already implemented or proposed by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). It’s as if Azruddin thought he could slap a new label on existing government plans and pretend they were his own.
The irony is stark: a man who allegedly defrauded the state of millions now promises to “invest in the nation.” The only nation Azruddin appears interested in investing in is Venezuela.
The Real Threat
This is no longer just about a shady businessman running for office. It’s about foreign interference, national security, and the integrity of Guyana’s democracy. Venezuela has both motive and opportunity to destabilize Guyana before the elections and weaken its ICJ position. Aligning with a sanctioned, scandal-ridden figure like Mohamed is a convenient way to do this.
Todd’s warning is stark:
“We have to ensure that we are very cautious because we cannot rule out any attempt by Venezuela to use any option available to derail our electoral process.”
Guyana’s Choice
When voters go to the polls, they’ll be choosing not just between parties but also whether they want their country led by individuals committed to defending Guyana’s sovereignty — or by a man whose recent schedule includes questionable embassy visits, OFAC sanctions, and possible secret deals with a foreign dictator.
Azruddin Mohamed wants you to believe he’s the answer to Guyana’s problems. But if history, sanctions, and now a Venezuelan visa application tell us anything, it’s that he’s not the answer — he’s the problem.
The fact that this man believes he can enter politics after being widely disgraced internationally says a lot about his ego. The fact that he’s doing so while engaging with one of Guyana’s most aggressive territorial adversaries says even more about his loyalties.
The Mohameds know they must escape from Guyana to Venezuela because they understand the truth that they will be extradited to the USA. However, law enforcement in Guyana must keep watch on both.