Guyanese businessman facing US extradition elected opposi...

What’s Happening

Let’s talk about Azruddin Mohamed’s election comes six months after he formed political party that became country’s second largest A Guyanese businessman facing extradition to the US on gold-smuggling and money-laundering charges has been elected as the country’s opposition leader, six months after he formed a political party that quickly became the second largest in the South American country .

Azruddin Mohamed gestures to media after voting during the presidential election in Georgetown on 1 September 2025. Photograph: Leon Leung/AFP/ View image in fullscreen Azruddin Mohamed gestures to media after voting during the presidential election in Georgetown on 1 September 2025. (shocking, we know)

Photograph: Leon Leung/AFP/ Guyana Guyanese businessman facing US extradition elected opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed’s election comes six months after he formed political party that became country’s second largest Associated Press in Georgetown Mon 26 Jan 2026 13.

The Details

26 EST Last modified on Mon 26 Jan 2026 13. 58 EST A Guyanese businessman facing extradition to the US on gold-smuggling and money-laundering charges has been elected as the country’s opposition leader, six months after he formed a political party that quickly became the second largest in the South American country .

Azruddin Mohamed, 38, was locked in as Guyana’s opposition leader after 16 lawmakers from the We Invest in Nationhood party (Win) and another from a single-seat outfit voted in his favor. The tally made Win the second-largest party in parliament, securing Mohamed’s election even as a magistrate’s court hears state arguments for his extradition to the US.

Why This Matters

Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, were indicted last year in Florida on federal charges of gold smuggling and money laundering. The indictments came just over a year after the US treasury department also sanctioned the duo for allegedly smuggling more than 10,000 kilograms (22,000 pounds) of gold to the US from Guyana, and evading more than $50m in taxes. The case has underscored persistent government corruption in the oil-rich South American country.

This is part of the larger geopolitical picture unfolding right now.

Key Takeaways

• The family had been among Guyana’s largest gold buyers and exporters.
• They also ran one of the most successful foreign exchange outlets and possess extensive real estate holdings.
• Authorities have since shuttered all their businesses and commercial bank accounts once the sanctions were just dropped.

The Bottom Line

They also ran one of the most successful foreign exchange outlets and possess extensive real estate holdings. Authorities have since shuttered all their businesses and commercial bank accounts once the sanctions were just dropped.

Is this a W or an L? You decide.