Nandlall says charges likely for Mohameds, company’s firearms license revoked

Last Thursday, March 27, 2025, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, revealed that both the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF)  had accumulated enough evidence to take legal action against Mohamed’s Enterprise.

Nandlall’s statement came shortly after Government meeting with United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was on an official visit to Guyana, suggesting that the international dimension of the situation may play a significant role in the ongoing investigations.

The sanctions against Mohamed’s Enterprise and its affiliated individuals, including businessman Azruddin Mohamed, his father Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, and Permanent Secretary Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas  were imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in June 2024.

The OFAC sanctions reportedly stemmed from allegations that Mohamed’s Enterprise had evaded taxes on gold exports by under-declaring shipments.

Between 2019 and 2023, the company is said to have omitted over 10,000 kilograms of gold, avoiding an estimated US$50 million in duties.

Nandlall emphasised that the collaboration between U.S. law enforcement and their Guyanese counterparts had led to the gathering of critical evidence, making it possible for the GRA and GPF to proceed with their investigations and possible legal actions.

The Attorney General added that this was part of broader efforts to combat corruption in Guyana’s underdeveloped gold sector.

The U.S. Treasury Department’s decision to sanction the Mohamed family was part of a larger initiative, implemented through Executive Order 13818, aimed at targeting perpetrators of corruption and severe human rights abuses worldwide.

Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, said in June 2024 that the sanctions underscored the U.S. commitment to holding accountable those who exploit Guyana’s gold sector for personal gain.

The U.S. Treasury’s coordinated action with various agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has underscored the increasing international scrutiny of Mohamed’s Enterprise.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has seized more than 50 firearms, including high-power rifles, from Azruddin Mohamed’s security company, Mohamed’s Enterprise, after the company’s firearms license was revoked.

A twist in this ongoing saga with the Mohamed family is the relationship with the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP). This relationship has become increasingly strained. Once known for their close ties with the party, including significant financial contributions of tens of millions of dollars, the Mohamed family has now become a focal point of criticism. PPP General Secretary and Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, has made the Mohameds a central issue in his press conferences, heightening tensions.

Azruddin Mohamed, in particular, has attracted attention due to his growing popularity during his visits across Guyana, where he has been drawing large crowds. Analysts believe the rift between the PPP and the Mohameds stems from this newfound attention, as PPP supporters and even party leadership have been showing up at Mohamed’s events, hurling insults at attendees. Additionally, groups of 10-day workers have been spotted at these events holding placards in protest.