It is deeply concerning that Guyana appears to be one of the few places where individuals facing serious allegations of money laundering, gold smuggling, invoice fraud and other criminal activities can use their wealth and influence to enter the political arena and then lecture the country’s elected leadership.
In the United States, Azruddin Mohamed and Nazar Mohamed are facing extradition proceedings after being indicted by a Grand Jury in Miami for the allegations against them. Yet the same Mohamed now seems more interested in attacking President Irfaan Ali and spreading political propaganda than in addressing the extradition issue itself.
The bigger problem is that social media, particularly Facebook, has poisoned the minds of many people to the point that repeated claims are accepted as facts without verification. People need to educate themselves, look beyond propaganda, understand how the legal process works, and separate facts from political theatre. A Facebook post is not evidence, propaganda is not truth, and political noise cannot make serious allegations disappear.
President Dr Irfaan Ali has rejected allegations against him by We Invest in Nationhood leader Azruddin Mohamed, insisting that his personal assets and interests have been properly disclosed to Guyana’s Integrity Commission.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, President Ali questioned the credibility of the accusations and of the accuser, particularly in light of the legal challenges Mohamed faces over an extradition request from the United States.
A major point of contention was a claim that the President owns a 150-acre ranch worth millions of dollars. Ali disputed that figure, stating that the property in question covers more than 60 acres and is nowhere near the size alleged.
The President also maintained that his financial interests in the property have been disclosed in line with his legal obligations. He said he began financing the property with a loan around 2012 and has consistently provided the relevant information to the Integrity Commission.
According to Ali, his accountant has also prepared records of his assets and submitted them through the appropriate channels. He stressed that he has no reason to conceal his holdings and that his declarations cover everything he is required to report.
Ali argued that the allegations should be assessed in light of the background of the person making them. He accused Mohamed of presenting inaccurate information for political purposes and questioned whether claims from someone facing serious legal proceedings should be accepted without scrutiny.
The President also expressed concern about what he described as a growing culture of unverified accusations, particularly on social media, where claims can quickly attract public attention before the facts are established.
Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed Mohamed are currently contesting extradition proceedings in Guyana following a request from the United States. He and his father, businessman Nazar Mohamed, face allegations in the United States of gold smuggling, money laundering and other financial offences. The allegations remain for the courts to determine.
The legal proceedings have continued after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) rejected an appeal by the two men challenging the extradition process. The decision allowed the US request to proceed.
The Mohamed family and their associated businesses were also sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in June 2024. The US government cited allegations of gold smuggling and significant corruption, and alleged that more than US$50 million in taxes owed to the Guyanese government had been evaded.
US authorities are reported to have been examining the activities of the Mohameds since the mid-2010s. The investigation reportedly involved cooperation and intelligence sharing between US and Guyanese law enforcement agencies.
Among the US agencies said to have participated in the investigation were the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security.
US prosecutors allege that the Mohameds were involved in an operation between 2017 and 2024, during which substantial quantities of Guyanese gold were exported to the United States using allegedly falsified customs documentation and government export seals that were reused.
According to the indictment, the alleged scheme involved more than 10,000 kilograms of gold and was intended to evade taxes and royalties that would otherwise have been payable to the Guyanese government.
US investigators also identified a gold shipment valued at approximately US$5.3 million, which was intercepted at Miami International Airport during the investigation.
Following the US indictment, American authorities formally requested the surrender of the two men under the extradition arrangements between Guyana and the United States. This request subsequently led to legal proceedings before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Against this backdrop, President Ali has urged the public to scrutinise the allegations against him carefully rather than accept claims based solely on their online circulation. He maintains that his assets have been properly declared and that the allegations about his property are inaccurate.
The President’s remarks have therefore shifted attention from the claims themselves to the credibility and circumstances surrounding the person making them. At the same time, the separate US allegations against Mohamed and his father remain subject to the ongoing legal process.