On October 2nd, the United States officially indicted Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed, two residents of Guyana, on charges that include money laundering, bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. This indictment, the two arrests, and the potential extradition have all been very controversial due to Azruddin’s political rise in Guyana.

Azruddin Mohamed is currently considered one of Guyana’s wealthiest citizens. He’s also the leader of the We Invest in Nationhood party, a political party that’s opposing the current regime. 

During the country’s general elections on September 1st, Azruddin’s party won 16 of the 65 parliamentary seats up for grabs. Azruddin was also expected to be elected by lawmakers as their leader on November 3rd. Nazar is Azruddin’s father.

Last year, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the Mohameds, their business entities, and a former government official, Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas, who is believed to have been a strong ally of the Mohameds. The sanctions were directly related to allegations that the two Mohameds and their family business smuggled more than 22,000 pounds of gold to the United States from Guyana, enabling them to avoid paying over $50 million in taxes.

One of the attorneys representing Azruddin and Nazar is attempting to prevent their extradition by arguing that some of the charges laid against the Guyanese natives are “not extraditable” under the law or the extradition treaty between Guyana and the U.S. The country’s Attorney General, on the other hand, explained that the 11 counts span the period from 2017 to 2024. 

The Attorney General explained that the US and Guyana have an existing extradition relationship that’s currently governed by two important acts: The Fugitive Offenders Act and a 1924 Treaty between the US and the UK. That means the two countries have had an extradition relationship for about 150 years. The Attorney General further confirmed that Azruddin would not be able to get any legal immunity from criminal charges or prosecution under the laws of Guyana or the United States simply because of his political status.

The Attorney General further explained that both the US and Guyana seek to work together on any and all criminal matters between the two countries.

What to Know About Extradition

If you commit a crime in one country and then attempt to flee to another one, then there’s a great chance that you could still get arrested and extradited back to that original country. The reason is that many countries around the world have extradition treaties with one another. These international treaties help ensure that justice is served across different borders.

If you get arrested and could face extradition, it’s critical to quickly hire an experienced international attorney. Here at Bukh Global, our team has extensive experience representing clients facing extradition requests. 

Schedule a free case evaluation with our law office now by leaving your details on our online form.