US-indicted Azruddin Mohamed must accept reality – Nandlall

– cannot expect to operate “business as usual” under US sanctions

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, has dismissed claims by fugitive offender Azruddin Mohamed that he is a victim of political persecution, stating that the businessman must accept the reality that his current circumstances stem from United States (US) sanctions and an extradition request related to serious international financial crimes.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the AG said Mohamed continues to portray himself as an alleged victim rather than acknowledging that sanctions imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury apply not only to him but also to his father, Nazar Mohamed, and their associated businesses. The release noted that both men were indicted by a grand jury in a court in Southern Florida on October 2, 2025, while the OFAC sanctions have been in place since June 2024.
According to the Ministry, the sanctions prohibit the Mohameds and their companies from conducting transactions and expose US citizens, businesses and international entities to severe penalties if they engage in business with them. Despite this, Azruddin Mohamed reportedly expects his enterprises to function as though there are no restrictions, a position the AG described as detached from reality.
The release further addressed Mohamed’s claims against commercial banks and insurance companies, which severed ties with him and his businesses in response to the sanctions. Minister Nandlall noted that these institutions acted in accordance with international standards to protect their financial systems and reputations, and not at the direction of the Government.
He said Mohamed’s attempts to blame the state ignore the obligations financial institutions have to comply with global regulatory frameworks. The Ministry also defended the actions of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), stating that the Force has a statutory duty to enforce laws governing motor vehicles, including requirements for insurance, licensing and fitness. When these laws are applied to the Mohameds, the AG said, allegations of persecution are raised – claims not available to ordinary citizens who are expected to comply with the law or face consequences.
In addition, the release confirmed that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the Mohameds for alleged gold smuggling and the evasion of billions of dollars in taxes and customs duties related to the importation of motor vehicles. As part of this process, a lawful block was placed on the transfer of vehicles. The Ministry alleged that the Mohameds corruptly facilitated the transfer of some of these vehicles, including transfers into the name of a family member, Maksim “Max” Dmitriyev, who is expressly prohibited under OFAC sanctions from conducting business with them. When the GRA uncovered this arrangement and moved to investigate, the Mohameds again claimed victimisation.

Indictment and sanctions
The father-son duo has been indicted by a grand jury in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on 11 criminal charges ranging from wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, primarily connected to the export of gold to the US by their company, Mohamed’s Enterprises. The Mohameds are accused of conspiring to defraud the US and Guyanese Governments between 2017 and June 11, 2024.
The father-son duo is accused of using a scheme to unlawfully obtain property by transmitting communications via interstate and foreign commerce in violation of US laws. According to the prosecutors, the goal was to enrich themselves and defraud the Government of Guyana by evading taxes and royalties on gold exports. They allegedly reused Guyana customs declarations and official seals on multiple shipments to make it appear that taxes and royalties had been paid when they had not.
The indictment stated that Mohamed’s Enterprise would pay taxes and receive official GRA and Guyana Gold Board (GGB) seals for one shipment, then reuse those same seals and documents on subsequent, untaxed shipments. The indictment further alleges that the Mohameds arranged for empty wooden boxes bearing intact GRA and GGB seals to be shipped from gold buyers in Dubai to Miami and then sent to Guyana.
These boxes were then used to export gold while falsely appearing to have cleared customs and tax obligations. US authorities allege the scheme resulted in more than US$50 million in lost taxes and royalties to the Government of Guyana. Additional indictments detail similar conduct involving shipments of gold, emails allegedly from Nazar Mohamed requesting the sealed boxes from Miami, and exports of over 165 kilograms (kg) of gold per shipment destined for Dubai.
Charges six to nine focus on mail fraud, referencing the shipment of sealed empty boxes from Dubai to Miami, while charge 10 addresses money laundering, which alleges that the Mohameds knowingly transferred funds within the US with the intent to promote unlawful activity. The other charge has to do with Azruddin Mohamed’s purchase and import of a Lamborghini sports car to Guyana in 2020. The indictment alleges he directed someone to purchase the car for US$680,000, then falsify the invoice to state a value of US$75,300 to understate import taxes. The US Government is seeking forfeiture of certain assets connected to the accused.
If convicted, most charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and fines of up to US$250,000, while the money laundering charge carries a fine of US$500,000 or the value of the laundered property. The indictment follows sanctions imposed over a year ago by the US Government on the Mohameds, their businesses and Guyanese Government Permanent Secretary (PS) Mae Thomas in relation to the same allegations. The sanctions are related to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, with OFAC noting that between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10,000 kg of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.
Since the imposition of the sanctions, the Guyana Government had suspended the licences of the Mohameds’ various businesses, highlighting that the US-sanctioned businessman is a risk and a threat to Guyana’s financial stability, sovereignty and diplomacy. Subsequently, several Government entities and local businesses, including commercial banks, have cut ties with the Mohameds.