In a shocking blow to their so-called public image, father and son businessmen, Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed, have been indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. Southern District of Florida on multiple charges of wire and mail fraud and money laundering. The indictment vividly describes a scheme aimed at cheating the Guyanese government out of millions in taxes and royalties from gold exports.
The 12-page indictment, covering 11 counts, alleges a broad conspiracy that spanned from 2017 to June 2024. According to U.S. authorities, the duo coordinated a scheme to reuse Guyana Customs declarations and official seals, making it appear as though taxes and royalties had been paid on gold shipments when, in fact, they had not.
The plan reportedly involved shipping empty wooden boxes with intact government seals from Dubai to Miami, then back to Guyana. These boxes were filled with gold and exported, all while maintaining the appearance of legality. The scheme allegedly defrauded the Guyanese government of over $50 million—a vast amount siphoned off by two men who clearly believed they were above the law.
Counts 2 through 5 of the indictment describe the repeated use of these empty boxes for gold shipments, citing emails from Nazar Mohamed arranging their procurement from Miami for ongoing exports. Each shipment reportedly involved over 165 kilograms of gold headed for buyers in Dubai.
Counts 6 through 9 repeat the same bold attempts to defraud using the mailing system, while Count 10 explicitly accuses the duo of money laundering, alleging they knowingly transferred funds from the US to support their illegal scheme.
Count 11 elevates the audacity by revealing Azruddin Mohamed’s purchase of a $680,000 USD Lamborghini. The indictment states that documents were forged to make the car appear to cost only $75,300—another alleged act of deception to cheat authorities.
The US government is also seeking forfeiture of property linked to the alleged crimes. Most charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and fines up to $250,000 or double the illicit gain. The money laundering charge could result in penalties of up to $500,000 or the value of the property involved.
This indictment comes more than a year after both men and their companies were sanctioned by the U.S. government for these same allegations, along with Government Permanent Secretary Mae Thomas. Yet, undeterred by international scrutiny, the Mohameds have continued to engage further in the political arena. Azruddin Mohamed established a political party that won 16 seats in the September 1 elections, positioning him as the leading opposition force in Guyana—despite the serious criminal allegations hanging over him.
With a US indictment now officially on record, the father-son duo faces the real possibility of prison and hefty fines. Their boldness—cheating a nation while trying to gain political power—has attracted international attention and mockery, leaving many to wonder how men so brazen could act so openly yet still believe they could escape justice.
The story serves as a stark reminder: wealth and ambition cannot shield anyone from the long arm of the law, no matter how high they climb.
Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed will face prison time in the U.S. There is no immunity for Parliament members in Guyana, and Azruddin will be extradited once U.S. law enforcement requests him. Eventually, the Win party will fade from the political scene in Guyana.