Presumptive Leader of the Opposition and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader Azruddin Mohamed has accused the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government of applying the law selectively in extradition matters, alleging that extraordinary state resources are being deployed against him while an alleged international drug trafficker was allowed to quietly defeat an extradition request.
Mohamed, whose WIN party secured 16 of the 29 Opposition seats in the 65-seat National Assembly following the 2025 General and Regional Elections, said the contrast between the two cases demonstrates what he described as political persecution. APNU holds 12 seats and the Forward Guyana Movement one.
“The Guyanese people only know about one extradition matter — the Mohameds’ extradition,” Mohamed said. “The government continues to spend hundreds of millions of dollars fighting the Mohameds, but they are protecting kingpin drug dealers. Why?”
Central to Mohamed’s criticism is the case of Vitesh Guptar, a foreign national who was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and an extradition request linked to alleged large-scale cocaine trafficking from Guyana and Colombia to Europe. Mohamed alleged that Guptar was arrested in Guyana in March 2024 but passed through the court system without public comment from President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo or Attorney General Anil Nandlall. He further alleged that the state did not appeal after Guptar succeeded in the Magistrates’ Court.
By contrast, Mohamed said the state has assembled an extensive team of local and foreign lawyers to pursue his extradition, raising questions about proportionality and motive.
“Why didn’t the PPP hire high-profile foreign lawyers like the no less than 10 lawyers hired by the state in my extradition case?” Mohamed asked.
He listed the attorneys involved as Terrence Williams KC, Herbert McKenzie and Celine Diedrick of Jamaica; Glen Hanoman of Portugal; Attorney General Anil Nandlall; Solicitor General Nigel Hawke; Deputy Solicitor General Shoshana Lall; Douglas Mendes SC, Clay Hackette and Darshan Ramdhani KC of Trinidad and Tobago.
Mohamed noted that extradition matters are ordinarily handled by the Police Legal Advisor, attorney-at-law Mandel Moore, but said his case has instead involved lawyers from four different countries. “Note the number of lawyers so far employed are from four different countries to seek to extradite me,” he said.
Mohamed and his father, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed are facing an extradition request from the United States in relation to alleged tax evasion and financial offences connected to his business activities. He has denied the allegations and maintains that the proceedings are politically motivated and amount to an abuse of process.
He contrasted the handling of his case with Guptar’s, arguing that while his matter involves alleged tax offences, Guptar was accused of involvement in international narcotics trafficking. Mohamed further alleged that Guptar continues to live and operate freely in Guyana despite not being a citizen.
Mohamed’s rapid rise in national politics has unsettled the ruling PPP, particularly among East Indian voters long considered a party stronghold. Political observers say the WIN party has siphoned off a significant portion of that base, while Mohamed has continued to publicly accuse government ministers of corruption under the banner, “This is what corruption under the PPP looks like,” actions that have reportedly caused unease within government ranks.
Tensions have been heightened by claims that the government and PPP-backed Speaker-elect Manzoor Nadir are refusing to convene Parliament to allow non-government MPs to elect a Leader of the Opposition. With WIN holding the largest bloc of opposition seats, Mohamed is widely expected to be elected to the position once the National Assembly meets.
“It is clear that the only reason President Irfaan, Vice President Jagdeo and Attorney General Nandlall are fighting tooth and nail for my extradition is because I am their political opponent,” Mohamed said. “This is clear political persecution.”
The government has not responded publicly to Mohamed’s latest allegations.
