“Paper Shots” murder probe-Cops search EBD property of US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed

As investigations intensify into the murder of gold miner Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fagundes, police executed a search warrant on a Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD) property belonging to Leader of the Opposition, United States (US) sanctioned and indicted, Azruddin Mohamed. Guyana Times understands that a team of about 20 ranks attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) swooped down on the premises just after 13:00h with a signed search warrant.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) in statement to the media after the exercise stated, “as investigations into the murder of Ricardo Fagundes, also known as ‘Paper Shorts’ continue, further legal advice was sought based on information received.” As such, the police added that, acting on the legal advice, ranks on Monday executed a search warrant at a property at Friendship, EBD. The warrant, the statement added, was granted by a Magistrate after consideration of the information presented. “The search was completed a short while ago,” the release concluded. However, the police did not say if any evidence was collected during the exercise. The Friendship premises, this publication understands, is used as storage for Mohamed’s racing cars, several luxury vehicles and boats along with spare parts.

This search comes in light of the arrests and subsequent release of several individuals close to the US-sanctioned Opposition Leader, including former security guards Mark Richmond and Udoh Kanu, and his personal mechanic Satrohan Rajkumar. In addition, Amarnauth Ramsook, a car dealer, was in custody and questioned about the murder of Fagundes. They were all released on $1 million bail each. The latest arrests and search mark another step in the high-profile probe into the killing of Fagundes, who was gunned down outside a popular nightspot on Main Street, Georgetown, on March 21, 2021. Back in 2022, former police sergeant Dion Bascom was arrested by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) in relation to cocaine found in a house on Norton Street, Georgetown. Shortly after his arrest, he posted videos on Facebook on August 11, 12, 13 and 19, 2020 accusing US-indicted Mohamed and senior police officers of a massive cover-up in the investigation into the execution of Fagundes. During the live broadcast, Bascom named Richmond as one of the suspects in the murder and stated that, using technology, detectives were able to place him at the crime scene when the murder occurred. Further, Bascom implicated Azruddin Mohamed, who is linked to Mohamed’s Enterprise, in the murder investigation by claiming phone records show that the suspect was in contact with him at the time of the killing. A week after the live broadcast, the Mohameds filed a $200 million lawsuit against Bascom. In 2025, Mohamed dropped the $200 million lawsuit against Bascom after he apologised for the live broadcast implicating Mohamed. Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fagundes was killed execution-style in March 2021 outside a popular Main Street, Georgetown, nightspot.

Reports indicate that the man was partying with a group of friends at the bar when his phone rang, and he exited the club to take the call; shortly thereafter, several gunshots were heard. Reports suggest that the now-deceased man’s friends rushed out to inquire but found Fagundes lying motionlessly in a pool of blood near his motor car. Following the allegations made by Bascom, the Guyanese Government engaged the Regional Security System (RSS) to assist in solving the murder of Fagundes. The RSS during its investigation, did not find any evidence of corrupt practices or an attempt to cover up the probe into the 2021 murder of Fagundes. It stated that the bribery allegations made by Sergeant Bascom against the GPF, namely that Detective Supt. Caesar and Inspector Stephens attempted to cover up the unlawful killing/homicide of Fagundes “were hearsay having no provenance. “