US-sanctioned Nazar “Shell” Mohamed caught on video leaving the Venezuelan Embassy

…visit raises national security concerns, Venezuelan ties

Weeks after challenging the Government to provide proof, evidence has now emerged to show United States (US)-sanctioned businessman, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, leaving the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown.
CCTV footage obtained by this publication shows Mohamed walking out of the Venezuelan Embassy in the company of another person at about 14:01h on August 7, 2025. He could be seen entering a vehicle, which subsequently drove off. This publication has since confirmed that the vehicle, PAG 3664, is registered to the Mohameds.
The emergence of the CCTV footage now raises questions as to what was discussed and why the Mohameds were reluctant, in the first place, to admit that a visit was indeed made to the embassy.
Nazar and his son, Azruddin Mohamed, the latter of whom founded the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party and is contesting the September 1 elections as the Presidential candidate, have been sanctioned along with several of their businesses by the US over gold smuggling and public corruption.
Earlier this month, Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister Hugh Todd had expressed concerns over the Mohameds’ frequent visits to the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown.
Todd said that he had previously summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Amador Perez Silva, to a meeting on the issue, and the diplomat indicated that the Mohameds “visited the embassy to apply for visas to go to Venezuela, specifically Caracas” – something which the Minister said is alarming in light of recent concerns raised by at least two US Congress members over what they had described as Venezuela’s attempt to influence internal affairs in Guyana, specifically through the younger Mohamed.
Congress members Carlos Gimenez and María Elvira Salazar called Azruddin Mohamed a “puppet” of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year, an accusation the Guyanese businessman has refuted.
Moreover, Azruddin Mohamed has also denied visiting the Venezuelan Embassy, but Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo subsequently said that there is video evidence of the elder Mohamed going to the embassy.
At a previous press conference, the VP had challenged the Mohameds to prove his claims wrong, saying he is even willing to put his political career on the line.
In an article published by the Stabroek News on August 17, however, Nazar Mohamed refused to answer whether he did in fact visit the Venezuelan embassy here and was quoted as saying, “The allegations are just so totally foolish and absurd.”

“What were you doing there?”
According to the Stabroek News article on August 17, 2025, the sanctioned businessman also claimed that the allegations were made to paint his son in a bad light.
With Venezuela making claims to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass and portions of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) offshore, a matter that is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for settlement, coupled with the country’s upcoming elections, VP Jagdeo just last week expressed concerns about the Mohameds’ association with Venezuela.

“What were you doing there? Why would you want to go to Venezuela on a vacation a couple weeks before the elections? Or was it a visa you were applying for? Or were you getting some information? And how often did you go there to the embassy? Were you collecting something, information or otherwise? Was he getting information from the Venezuelans to help their campaign? Was he trying to flee Guyana? Was he there for a benign purpose? But how benign could it be if weeks before the elections you go there? Nobody wants to go to Venezuela now. Now, why would you want to go to Venezuela at this stage, especially in light of several US congressmen saying he’s Maduro’s puppet and the Mohameds are Maduro’s puppets, and especially in light of reports that Venezuelan generals were linked to the gold smuggling in Guyana?” Jagdeo questioned.
He went on to add, “This is what they’re avoiding. And it’s a huge issue. It’s a national security issue for Guyana. So, all they could have done is to have a simple statement; ‘He did not go’. I’m still looking forward to them putting out this statement to make me a liar.”

Pro-Maduro puppet
On June 30, US Congressman Gimenez had also raised concerns over what he describes as Venezuela’s attempt to influence internal affairs in Guyana, specifically through a controversial figure. Gimenez stated, “In the US Congress we are alarmed by the regime in Venezuela’s attempt to undermine Guyana through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control).”
In 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, as well as several of their companies, for smuggling more than 10,000 kilograms of gold into the US and avoiding paying over US$50 million in duty taxes in Guyana.
Moreover, US Congresswoman Salazar subsequently cautioned that “We remain deeply concerned about efforts to undermine democracy in Guyana. As a strategic ally of the United States, Guyana deserves leaders who respect democratic values. Individuals sanctioned for illicit activities must not be allowed to jeopardise this vital relationship.”
The US has already designated Venezuela as a narco-state and has deployed several warships with over 4000 troops off the coast of Venezuela as part of efforts to crack down on the drug trade in the region.
Washington has stated that designated narco-terrorist organisations like Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles are using the region’s air and sea corridors to funnel drugs into the US, thus posing a direct threat to American lives and security.
The Guyana Government has already welcomed the US sending resources to the Caribbean region to clamp down on the illicit drug trade.
In fact, with elections just days away, incumbent President Irfaan Ali has been underscoring the need for Guyana to have strong and globally trusted leadership as the region faces rising military tensions between the US and Venezuela.
According to Ali, who is seeking a second term in office at the September 1 elections, only the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic has demonstrated the ability to lead the country with support from global partners to face regional security issues, such as illegal drug trafficking and threats to national security and territorial integrity.