GUYANA · POLITICS
Key Facts
- What is happening Guyana police arrested Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on Wednesday, 28 October, over an alleged 800,000 Guyanese dollars (about US$3,820) payment to a constable for surveillance video. No charge over the video had been announced by Wednesday evening.
- Why it matters Mohamed is under US Treasury sanctions, and Washington is seeking his extradition. The footage concerns the head of the police intelligence unit, who is a witness in that case.
- The numbers Police allege 800,000 Guyanese dollars (about US$3,820) changed hands on 24 October. Mohamed and two employees are separately on 750,000 Guyanese dollars (about US$3,580) bail each in a gun case.
- Who is who Mohamed leads the opposition party We Invest in Nationhood (WIN). Prem Narine, head of Special Branch, the police intelligence unit, is a witness in the US extradition case against him.
- What to watch Watch whether police release or charge Mohamed over the footage. Watch also when the US extradition hearing resumes before a magistrate in Guyana.
- What it means for you The US Treasury sanctioned Mohamed and his gold company in June 2024, and nothing found shows the listing was lifted. US firms should still check sanctions rules before any dealings.
Guyana’s opposition leader was arrested on 28 October over leaked police surveillance video. Police link the case to an alleged cash payment to a constable.
Guyana’s police arrested Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on Wednesday, 28 October, at his home in Eccles. Police allege he paid a constable 800,000 Guyanese dollars (about US$3,820) for government surveillance video.
Mohamed leads the opposition party We Invest in Nationhood and is under US Treasury sanctions, so the arrest matters in Washington too. No charge over the video had been announced by Wednesday evening, and the allegations have not been tested in court.
What Happened on Wednesday 28 October
The head of the Criminal Investigation Department, Deputy Commissioner Wendell Blanhum, confirmed the arrest of Mohamed, a businessman turned politician. Local reports say he was arrested for questioning over the alleged payment to a 20-year-old policeman.
Mohamed, his driver and a videographer were already on bail in a separate case, having pleaded not guilty. They are charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and attempting to pervert justice.
That case dates from Monday, 12 October, when shots were fired outside the Georgetown home of Prem Narine, head of Special Branch. Police say a gun was fired from Mohamed’s car.
Mohamed alleges Narine fired at his car in an assassination attempt. He also says a handgun mysteriously appeared in the car during a police search, and these are his allegations.
Each of the three men was released on 750,000 Guyanese dollars (about US$3,580) bail. Narine is a witness in the US extradition case against Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed.
What Police Say About the Video
On Monday, 26 October, Mohamed played a video of the 12 October shooting at a news conference. The same day police announced that a 20-year-old constable from the force’s Command Centre was under close arrest.
Police say the constable admitted downloading the footage while on duty on Friday, 23 October, and saving it to a flash drive. They allege he did so as Mohamed instructed.
Police further allege that on Saturday, 24 October, Mohamed sent an employee to take the constable to his home in Houston. They say Mohamed paid the constable 800,000 Guyanese dollars (about US$3,820) in exchange for the recording.
The constable allegedly spent part of the money and gave the rest to his mother. Detectives say they are making efforts to retrieve the money.
These are allegations in a police statement, and they have not been tested in court. The statement carried no response from Mohamed or the constable.
What Mohamed and the Government Say
Mohamed told his news conference that Special Branch insiders passed the footage to his team. No direct comment from him on the arrest or the payment claim was found.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall, the chief government lawyer, said on Tuesday, 27 October, that the alleged payment could amount to tampering. He also named bribery and perverting justice but announced no new charge.
Nandlall argued that accused people must seek evidence through the courts’ disclosure rules and not through unauthorised copies. He said the footage will be evidence in a coming trial.
Why Washington Is Watching
The US Treasury’s sanctions office sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed, his father Nazar Mohamed and their gold company, Mohamed’s Enterprise, on 11 June 2024. Its release cited their roles in public corruption in Guyana, under an order that implements the Global Magnitsky Act.
The release alleged the company left over 10,000 kilograms of gold off declarations and avoided over US$50 million in duties. It said nothing about extradition or criminal charges.
Separately, the United States seeks the extradition of both men on charges including money laundering and fraud linked to gold trading. The hearing continues before a magistrate in Guyana.
What It Means for US Readers
US persons and companies should still check US sanctions rules before any dealings with Mohamed or his listed firms. Nothing found shows the 2024 Treasury listing was lifted, and no US agency has commented on the arrest in the sources reviewed.
The arrest adds to the political tension around the extradition case. Earlier reports cover the constable’s arrest and the 12 October shooting.
Background is in the extradition appeal report and the guide to who holds power in Guyana. The Guyana country page lists all coverage.
What Is Not Known
It is not known whether Mohamed has been released, charged or kept in custody, as no update was found after Wednesday evening. Nor is it known whether prosecutors will bring a case over the footage.
Mohamed’s detailed answer to the bribery allegation is not in the sources reviewed. The police account of the constable’s admission and of the payment has not been tested in court.
Conversions use the open.er-api.com rate of 29 October 2026, about 209.4 Guyanese dollars to the US dollar. Amounts are rounded to the nearest US$10.
What Comes Next
Police must decide whether to charge or release Mohamed over the footage. The extradition case continues before a magistrate.
The arrest is not a finding of guilt, and it does not decide the separate gun case. Mohamed and the others are presumed innocent unless a court finds otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Azruddin Mohamed?
He is a Guyanese businessman who leads the opposition party We Invest in Nationhood and serves as Opposition Leader. The US Treasury sanctioned him in June 2024.
Why was he arrested on 28 October?
Police are investigating an alleged 800,000 Guyanese dollars (about US$3,820) payment to a constable for surveillance video. No charge over it had been announced by Wednesday evening.
What is the video about?
It is surveillance footage of the 12 October shooting outside the home of Special Branch head Prem Narine. Mohamed, who says Narine fired at his car, played it on 26 October.
What has Mohamed said about the video?
He says Special Branch insiders passed the footage to his team. No direct answer to the bribery allegation was found.
Why does the United States care?
The US Treasury has sanctioned him, and Washington seeks his extradition on alleged money-laundering and fraud charges. Narine is a witness in that case.
Sources: US Treasury press release of 11 June 2024; US Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, sanctions list update of 11 June 2024; Guyana Police Force statement on the constable, 26 October 2026; Criminal Investigation Department confirmation of the arrest, 28 October 2026; Attorney General Anil Nandlall, programme of 27 October 2026 (all accessed 29 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief