38-year-old Azruddin Mohamed has quickly become a powerhouse in Guyana, but his rise to fame and political power hasn’t come without consequences. According to reports, Mohamed is also wanted in America on charges of money laundering and gold smuggling. As it stands, the United States is attempting to seek his extradition.

This extradition is likely to become controversial, considering Mohamed was recently elected as the country’s opposition leader. 

He formed his own political party in Guyana, which has become the second largest in the country. He was elected as opposition leader even after being indicted on federal charges in the US last year and arrested in Guyana.

Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, were both arrested on October 31, 2025, after the Guyanese government received the official extradition request from the U.S. Justice Department. A Florida courtroom officially indicted both men on eleven charges that include serious offenses like bribery, tax evasion, and money laundering. After being arrested, both men were released the same day after posting bail, which was set at 150,000 Guyanese dollars each. Under the law in Guyana, both men have to report to court weekly.

On top of the charges they’re facing, the US Treasury Department has also placed sanctions on both men for smuggling around 22,000 pounds of gold to the US from Guyana. As part of the smuggling operation, the US Treasury estimates the duo evaded around $50M in taxes.

Mohamed has claimed that he is currently being targeted for political persecution, and he’s also stated that he believes his political adversaries have agents working with them in the US that are behind the sanctions and indictments. What’s more, Mohamed’s legal team is attempting to argue that some of the offenses listed in the indictment are not crimes in Guyana, so the extradition request should be denied.

In contrast, the country’s Attorney General, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, confirmed that the country has a “legal obligation” to follow through with its international commitments when it comes to extradition requests due to a 1931 treaty between the US and UK that remains in force in Guyana to this day.

This case is likely to continue to drag on, with both parties putting up a fight.

Fighting an Extradition Request

If you’ve ever been accused of committing a crime in a foreign country and face an extradition request, then it’s critical that you seek out the help of an international attorney who has experience with extraditions.

Governments and prosecutors are very likely to rely on established extradition treaties to essentially push for the authority to extradite you, so it’s important that your lawyer thoroughly investigates the charges against you, the existing treaties, legal precedents, and your potential defense strategies. Even if you aren’t able to prevent an extradition, a global attorney can travel with you to defend you in the country that’s charging you.

Here at Bukh Global, our international team is prepared to advocate for you across all borders. Schedule a free call to discuss your situation with us now by leaving your contact details on our online form.