Azruddin Mohamed and his father Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed were granted bail on Friday, October 31, 2025, despite a U.S. extradition request accusing them of wire fraud, money laundering, and gold smuggling. The duo, arrested earlier that day, appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in Georgetown, Guyana. The U.S. government, represented by lawyer Terrence Williams via Zoom, opposed bail, citing allegations of an ‘international criminal enterprise’ with connections to Venezuela and the Middle East. Williams claimed the Mohameds could flee to Venezuela, where they allegedly have property and ties to high-ranking officials. However, defense lawyers Nigel Hughes and Siand Dhurjon argued that these allegations were baseless and unsubstantiated. Magistrate Latchman granted each defendant GY$150,000 bail, requiring them to surrender their passports and report weekly to the Ruimveldt Police Station. The case is set to continue on November 10, 2025, to determine if sufficient evidence exists for extradition. Outside the courtroom, Azruddin Mohamed denied all charges, accusing the Guyana government of colluding with the U.S. to prevent him from assuming his role as Opposition Leader. The defense team also raised constitutional concerns, hinting at potential appeals to the Constitutional Court.
Azruddin, Nazar Mohamed granted bail in US extradition case, despite claims of Venezuelan, Middle East connections
