On Thursday, 3 September 2026, a developing security incident near Guyanese President Irfaan Ali’s private residence in Leonora, West Coast Demerara has triggered a public dispute between national authorities and the country’s opposition leadership.
According to an official statement released by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), several unregistered drones were allegedly found in the possession of four people traveling in two heavily tinted motor vehicles that were spotted acting suspiciously near the president’s property. The area surrounding Ali’s residence is designated as a restricted no-fly zone for unmanned aircraft, a restriction that also applies to other high-security sites across Guyana including State House, Eugene F’ Correia ‘Ogle’ Airport, and Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
The Guyana Police Force provided additional details of the interception, confirming that the two vehicles were first detected acting suspiciously near the presidential compound at approximately 6:20 PM. When noticed by on-duty Presidential Guards, the vehicles immediately fled the area, prompting an emergency distress call that alerted nearby patrol units. Law enforcement teams successfully intercepted both vehicles a short time later, bringing the occupants and the vehicles to the Leonora Police Station compound for questioning.
The incident took an unexpected political turn when opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed, who was among the individuals stopped by police, publicly disputed the authorities’ claims during a Facebook Live broadcast from the Leonora Police Station. Mohamed denied that any drones had been operated near the president’s residence, noting that the entire Leonora area is a designated no-fly zone that would prevent drones from operating anyway. “If you think we operated a drone here, pull one out right now — you’ll see this is a no-fly zone because the president lives here,” Mohamed stated during the broadcast. He added that he was not the owner of any drone involved in the incident, and has not yet responded to requests for additional comment on whether police have seized drones from him or any other person in the vehicles. Mohamed also detailed that his vehicle was forced off the road by two police cruisers while the group was traveling back to the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge.
Tensions escalated at the police station when a senior police officer ordered Mohamed to stop recording his interaction with officers on camera, claiming that video recording inside a police compound violates local law. Mohamed rejected this claim outright and continued his live broadcast.
In its formal statement, the GCAA emphasized that it views the alleged violation of restricted airspace rules with extreme seriousness. The regulator reminded the public that operating any unmanned aircraft or drone without proper authorization in restricted or prohibited airspace is illegal under Guyana’s 2018 Civil Aviation Act and associated aviation regulations, and can be prosecuted as a criminal offense.
“We will not tolerate the operation of drones in restricted airspace, near protected locations, or any activity that threatens aviation safety, national security, or public safety,” the GCAA statement read. The authority confirmed that it is working alongside national security and law enforcement agencies to pursue all appropriate legal action against anyone found responsible for unlawful drone operation. “Offenders will face the full force of the law, including criminal prosecution and all applicable penalties under current legislation,” the statement added.