In a significant development within Guyana’s political landscape, agents from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force executed a search warrant on Wednesday at a Lombard Street, Georgetown property formerly housing the Mohamed family’s gold dealership and foreign exchange operations. The operation has sparked allegations of political retaliation from opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed, who connects the raid to his recent parliamentary disclosure about financially supporting the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
Law enforcement authorities confiscated approximately GY$2 million in local currency and multiple boxes containing gold trading documentation during the 30-minute operation. Additionally, agents seized a personal firearm belonging to one of Mohamed’s uncles and detained another uncle along with an employee for questioning at a nearby police station.
Mohamed, who leads the primary opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, characterized the operation as ‘sheer political persecution’ motivated by his criticism of the current administration. He maintained that the seized funds were designated for charitable distributions to less fortunate citizens, stating: ‘All they found was a couple hundred dollars that we would help beggars on a daily basis.’
The businessman documented the entire search procedure through video recording as a protective measure against potential evidence tampering. He repeatedly urged SOCU agents to accompany him during the inspection to prevent any alleged planting of illicit materials on the premises.
This marks the first law enforcement search of Mohamed properties since the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions in June 2024 for alleged gold smuggling and tax evasion activities. Mohamed revealed that commercial banks had previously closed all family accounts following the OFAC designation, forcing withdrawal of existing funds.
The Mohamed family currently faces extradition proceedings to the United States, where they are wanted in a Florida federal court on charges including mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Despite these international legal challenges, Mohamed maintains his innocence and asserts that his political standing has made him a target of government persecution.